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Case Reports
. 2025 Jun 26;20(9):4634-4638.
doi: 10.1016/j.radcr.2025.05.097. eCollection 2025 Sep.

A rare presentation of massive subamniotic hemorrhage in a pregnant woman with severe malaria: A case report

Mesfin Ayalew Tsegaye  1 , Abel Benti Abchale  1 , Matyas Wondwossen Elssa  2 , Kefelegn Negalign Mekuria  2 , Negusu Kassa Biza  1 , Fitsum Assefa Gemechu  2 , Rebecca Haile Tesfay  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

A rare presentation of massive subamniotic hemorrhage in a pregnant woman with severe malaria: A case report

Mesfin Ayalew Tsegaye et al. Radiol Case Rep. .

Abstract

Malaria during pregnancy poses significant health risks, leading to severe complications such as anemia, thrombocytopenia, and placental bleeding. Severe Plasmodium falciparum infection can result in placental hematomas, which may be classified as retroplacental, subchorionic, or subamniotic. Subamniotic hemorrhages, although rare may contribute to adverse outcomes such as preterm delivery and fetal growth restriction. This case report details a 28-year-old mother who experienced massive subamniotic bleeding due to severe malaria, ultimately leading to preterm delivery. The mother recovered after having minimal bleeding after the delivery, while the neonate died at the neonatal ICU due to complications of prematurity. The placenta was found to contain approximately 800 mL of lysed blood, highlighting the serious implications of malaria on pregnancy outcomes. This report emphasizes the importance of early detection and management of placental hematomas in pregnant women with malaria to mitigate risks for both the mother and fetus. Enhanced awareness among healthcare providers is crucial for improving maternal and neonatal health in malaria-endemic regions.

Keywords: Placental; Preterm; Severe malaria; Subamniotic; Thrombocytopenia.

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Figures

Fig 1
Fig. 1
Huge echogenic subamniotic hemorrhage( white arrow), placenta (star) and the fetal abdomen( blue arrow).
Fig 2
Fig. 2
Septated multicytic mass which indicates the lysing hemorrhage ( white arrow) and the placenta (black arrow).
Fig 3
Fig. 3
The delivered placenta with the subamniotic hemorrhage( black arrow) and the placenta (dashed arrow).
Fig 4
Fig. 4
The subamniotic hemorrhage opened with visible lysed clots.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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