Analysis of placental pathological findings contributing to intrauterine fetal death.

Jo, Yun Sung; Jang, Dong Gyu; Lee, Gui Se

doi:2010.53.7.602

Obstet Gynecol Sci > Volume 53(7); 2010 > Article

Original Article

Korean Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology 2010;53(7):602-607.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5468/kjog.2010.53.7.602 Published online July 1, 2010.

Analysis of placental pathological findings contributing to intrauterine fetal death.

Yun Sung Jo, Dong Gyu Jang, Gui Se Lee

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, St. Vincent's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. leegsr@catholic.ac.kr

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.

Key Words: Fetal death, Placenta, Pathology