Effects of Diabetes and Hypertension on Placenta

Abstract

Placental insufficiency is the failure of the placenta to supply nutrients to the fetus and remove toxic wastes; it is a common cause of intra uterine growth restriction (IUGR), fetal distress peri and postnatal mortality. Specifically gestational diabetes and hypertension during pregnancy alters placental architecture which contributes to insufficiency of the placenta. Placenta is the most accurate record of infant’s prenatal experiences. Clinical condition such as hypertension and diabetes that complicate pregnancy leads to significant structural changes in placenta, these histological changes and  morphological alterations in placenta lead to insufficiency, resulting in IUGR and fetal distress. In the present study morphology of placentas collected from diabetic and hypertensive pregnancy will be observed, the histo-pathological findings will be recorded and correlated to birth weight, APGAR scores and congenital anomalies of babies and will be compared to the findings in normal placentas also. This study will be beneficial for obstetrician and pediatrician in gathering knowledge about patho genesis of placental insufficiency; it will add to the knowledge on placental morphology and will high light the abnormalities in placental  anatomy.