Histology of Placenta in Normotensive and Hypertensive Cases in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: A Comparative Study

Abstract

One of the most common pregnancy complications is Hypertension. It has a major effect on maternal and neonatal morbidities and fatalities. The placenta is an important organ for the maintenance of pregnancy and the nourishment of the fetus.  Objective: To compare the morbid variations in the placenta of hypertensive and normotensive mothers. Methods: From the obstetrics and gynecology department, a hundred placentae of hypertension and normotensive females were collected. The placentae were preserved in formalin and sectioned. Blocks prepared were stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Results: The placentae from 50 normotensive mothers with 26±3.1 years (mean age) and 50 hypertensive mothers with 26± 2 years (mean age). In normotensive patients 12% Infarction was seen and 70% of severe hypertensive patients while syncytial knots were found in 70% of cases of severe hypertension, while calcification was observed in 90%. In severe hypertension, stroma fibrosis and hypervascularity increase in proportion to the degree of hypertension, with 50% and 30% cases seen in severe hypertension, respectively. Conclusions: In pregnancy hypertension causes, Stromal fibrosis syncytial knots, calcified, hypervascularity, all of which impair the uteroplacental flow of blood and lower newborn weight.