Human Placental Histopathology in Preterm Stillbirth: One Center's Experience.

ABSTRACTOur aim is to identify maternal risk factors and to determine placental histopathologies in preterm stillbirths. We designed a prospective study involving a patient population (n = 136) composed of singleton stillbirth (n = 40) and singleton live-born neonates (n = 96) between 23 0/7 and 36 6/7 weeks of gestation. We divided the stillbirths into groups of early (n = 21) and late (n = 19) stillbirths. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 15 software. Small birth weight for gestational age and oligo-anhydramnios were significantly higher in the early stillbirth group (p = 0.001, p = 0.002 respectively). Antenatal follow up was significantly lower in the late stillbirth group (p = 0.001). Placental weight was statistically lower in the early stillbirth group (p = 0.001). We found no significant differences in maternal vascular underperfusion, fetal vascular obstruction, inflammation and villitis of unknown etiology. Placental pathologies causing preterm labor may play an important r...