EFFECTS OF PREGNANCY INDUCED HYPERTENSION ON HUMAN PLACENTA

INTRODUCTION: Placenta is a unique organ which arise de novo, directly related to the growth and development of the foetus in the uterus. A thorough examination of the placenta inutero, as well as post-partum, gives valuable information about the state of the foetal well being. Pregnancy Induced Hypertension is a well recognized obstetric hazard and observed more frequently in developing countries. OBJECTIVES: The present study was undertaken to analyze placental changes in the pregnancy induced hypertension. MATERIAL AND METHODS: thirty placentae of mothers with uncomplicated pregnancy as control group and thirty with pregnancy induced hypertension as study group were studied with gross examination and histologically. RESULTS: Gross examination revealed presence of smaller placentae with foci of calcification and infarction in study group. On light microscopic examination, the striking villous abnormalities were observed in the study group which included increased Syncytial knots formation, fibrinoid necrosis, stromal fibrosis, hyalinized villi, altered villous vascularity (hypo vascularity), cytotrophoblastic cell proliferation, endarteritis obliterans, intervillous haemorrhage and basement membrane thickening. CONCLUSIONS: Pregnancy induced hypertension immensely affected placenta which may be responsible for wore postnatal outcomes. This study is of particular importance for Pathologists, Embryologists and Gynaecologists.