Placental Weight and Surface as an Indicator of Placental Insufficiency and Adverse Perinatal Outcomes

The placenta is a temporary but essential organ that develops during pregnancy and supports the growth and survival of the fetus. It delivers oxygen and nutrients from the mother to the baby and removes waste products from the fetal circulation. Proper placental development and function are critical for a healthy pregnancy and good outcomes for both the mother and the newborn.

When the placenta does not grow or function properly, this condition is known as placental insufficiency. Placental insufficiency may lead to serious pregnancy complications, such as poor fetal growth, preterm birth, low birth weight, low Apgar scores, and increased risk of illness or death around the time of birth. In some cases, placental dysfunction may also contribute to maternal complications, including pregnancy-related hypertension.

Previous research has shown that simple physical characteristics of the placenta-such as its weight, size, thickness, and surface area-may reflect how well the placenta functions. Placentas that are smaller than expected for a given gestational age may indicate long-standing problems with blood flow between the mother and the fetus. However, these measurements are not yet routinely used as clinical markers of risk.

The purpose of this study was to examine whether placental weight, placental surface area, placental disk weight, and related histopathological changes are associated with adverse perinatal outcomes. The study included both healthy pregnant women and women with medical conditions known to affect pregnancy, such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and thrombophilia. Special attention was given to placentas classified as small for gestational age (SGA-P) compared with placentas appropriate for gestational age (AGA-P).