Gross morphological study of placenta in preeclampsia

Placenta is a fetomaternal organ that structurally and functionally connects the developing fetus to the uterine wall during pregnancy. Pregnancy is usually complicated by preeclampsia, which in turn will alter the macroarchitecture and functions of the placenta as well as health of the pregnant mothers. Hence, this study was conducted to assess the macroarchitectural changes of placenta in preeclampsia mothers as compared to normotensive mothers. A cross-sectional study was carried out on preeclampsia mothers who gave birth at Gandhi Memorial and Black Lion Specialized Hospitals, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. A total of 100 fresh placentas from normotensive and preeclampsia mothers were implemented. The macroarchitecture of placenta were examined by inspection and measuring. The data were analyzed by independent- samples t-test and chi square. Accordingly, the finding showed that the shape of placentas was circular in 80% of normotensive and 72% of preeclamptic. Placental weight, diameter, thickness and number of cotyledon in preeclamptic mothers were 456.2 gram, 17.66 centimeter, 1.72 centimeter and 17.24; in normotensive 499.4 gram, 19.4centimeter, 1.96 centimeter, and 18.66 respectively. According to the present study most of macroarchitecture (diameter, thickness, weight and number of cotyledon) of placenta were significantly decreased in preeclamptic mothers.Key words: placenta, weight, diameter, cotyledon, preeclampsia