Korean J Obstet Gynecol.  2010 Jul;53(7):602-607. 10.5468/kjog.2010.53.7.602.

Analysis of placental pathological findings contributing to intrauterine fetal death

• Jo YS
• Jang DG
• Lee GS

• KMID: 2273940
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5468/kjog.2010.53.7.602

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To evaluate placental causes of fetal death intrauterine (IUFD) bases on placental pathologic findings.
METHODS
Retrospective review of 123 placental pathological reports of singleton fetal deaths from 20 weeks of gestation to 41 weeks of gestation.
RESULTS
The incidences of maternal causes, fetal causes, inflammatory causes, miscellaneous and unremarkable findings were 45.5%, 28.4%, 16.2%, 23.5%, respectively. The incidence of fetal anomaly was 8.9%. Fetal anomalies were deeply related to fetal cause (P=0.000). Intrauterine growth restriction was significantly associated with maternal causes (P=0.038).
CONCLUSION
No pathological guideline regarding placental examination of intrauterine fetal death exists. In future studies, a better definition of fetal death causes and associated placental pathological findings might aid clinicians in counseling, assessing the risk of recurrence and even preventing fetal death in subsequent pregnancies.

Keyword

Fetal death; Placenta; Pathology

MeSH Terms

Counseling
Fetal Death
Incidence
Placenta
Pregnancy
Recurrence
Retrospective Studies