Do small for gestational age fetuses have placental pathologies?

• Published in: Archives of gynecology and obstetrics 2024-04, Vol.309 (4), p.1305-1313
• Main Authors: Calis, Pinar, Gundogdu, Ayse Cakir, Turgut, Ezgi, Seymen, Cemile Merve, Saglam, Atiye Seda, Karcaaltincaba, Deniz, Kaplanoglu, Gulnur Take
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Endocrinology; Female; Fetal Growth Retardation - pathology; Fetus; Fetuses; Gestational Age; Gynecology; Human Genetics; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Newborn, Diseases - pathology; Infant, Small for Gestational Age; Maternal-Fetal Medicine; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Obstetrics/Perinatology/Midwifery; Parturition; Placenta - pathology; Pregnancy
• ISSN: 1432-0711; 0932-0067; 1432-0711
• DOI: 10.1007/s00404-023-06989-8

Purpose Although small for gestational age (SGA) does not cause adverse perinatal outcomes, the placental pathology for fetal growth restricted (FGR) and SGA fetuses is still unknown. The aim of this study is to evaluate the differences between placentas of early onset FGR, late onset FGR, SGA, and appropriate for gestational age (AGA) pregnancies in the manner of microvasculature and expression of anti-angiogenic PEDF factor and CD68. Methods The study included four groups (early onset FGR, late onset FGR, SGA and AGA). Placental samples were obtained just after labor in all of the groups. Degenerative criteria were investigated with Hematoxylin–eosin staining. Immunohistochemical evaluation with H score and m RNA levels of Cluster of differentiation 68 (CD68) and pigment epithelium derived factor (PEDF) were performed for each group. Results The highest levels of degeneration were detected in the early onset FGR group. In means of degeneration SGA placentas were found to be worse than the AGA placentas. The intensity of PEDF and CD68 were significant in early FGR, the late FGR and SGA groups compared to the AGA group ( p