Clinical significance of pregnancies with succenturiate lobes of placenta

Abstract

Objectives: This study examined the clinical significance of patients complicated by succenturiate lobes of placenta in comparison with patients with normal placenta.

Methods: Data were collected from 47 patients complicated by succenturiate lobes of placenta and from 7,666 unaffected controls.

Results: The frequency of maternal age > or =35 years and history of using in vitro fertilization in patients complicated by succenturiate lobes of placenta were significantly higher than those in control patients (P < 0.01). In addition, the incidence of non-reassuring fetal status, vasa previa, postpartum hemorrhage and retained placenta in the study group were significantly higher than those in control (P < 0.01).

Conclusion: These results support the adverse obstetric outcomes in pregnancies with succenturiate lobes of placenta and may suggest the pathogenesis of these placental shape aberrations associated with assisted reproductive technology.