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. 2014 Jul 11:3:353.
doi: 10.1186/2193-1801-3-353. eCollection 2014.

A thick placenta: a predictor of adverse pregnancy outcomes

Ichiro Miwa  1 , Masakatsu Sase  1 , Mayumi Torii  1 , Hiromi Sanai  1 , Yasuhiko Nakamura  1 , Kazuyuki Ueda  1
Affiliations

A thick placenta: a predictor of adverse pregnancy outcomes

Ichiro Miwa et al. Springerplus. .

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of an ultrasonographic measurement of placental thickness and the correlation of a thick placenta with adverse perinatal outcome.

Methods: Placental thickness was measured in single gravidas, 16 to 40 weeks of gestation, between 2005 and 2009. Placentas were considered to be thick if their measured thickness were above the 95th percentile for gestational age.

Results: The incidence of thick placentas was 4.3% (138/3,183). Perinatal morbidity and neonatal conditions were worse in cases with thick placenta rather than without thick placenta.

Conclusions: Ultrasonographic measurement of placental thickness is a simple method to estimate placental size. Thick placenta may be a useful predictor of adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Keywords: Measurement of placental thickness; Perinatal outcome; Thick placenta; Ultrasonography.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Placental thickness was measured at the thickest portion of the placenta or beneath the cord insertion, and in a representative portion perpendicular to the chorionic plate.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Placentas were diagnosed as thick if they were above the 95th percentile for gestational age. Between 16 and 40 weeks of gestation, 4.3% (n = 138) of patients were diagnosed with thick placentas.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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