[Correlation between maternal hemoglobin levels and placental morphology and findings in newborn infants]

Abstract

According to the criteria formulated by the WHO a hemoglobin concentration of 11 g/% represents an anaemia requiring treatment. 28 placentas of patients with hemoglobin concentrations of 7.2 to 10.9 g/% were examined morphometrically to detect possible disturbances of placental development. The patients had all delivered between the 37th and 41st week. Weight, hematocrit and HbA content of the newborn were correlated with the maternal hemoglobin content. There was no influence of maternal hemoglobin concentration on weight and size of the placenta, degree of vascularization and epithelial plates of the terminal villi. In patients with severe anaemia villous areas were smaller and villous vascular areas appeared larger than usual. The ratio of weight of the newborn to weight of the placenta was more commonly decreased in patients with anaemia. In some cases of severe anaemia fetal HbA values were elevated. All newborns with a hematocrit of 50 or more were delivered of mothers with haemoglobin concentrations of 9.5 g/% or less. The weight of all newborns in this study were above the 10th percentile. 7 of 9 newborns with a weight of 3,200 g or less were delivered of patients with a hemoglobin concentration of 9.5 g/% or less. These results indicate that placenta and fetal organ systems are able to compensate for the maternal anaemia without any major complications.