Prediction of Pre-Eclampsia Development by Placenta Location: A Simple Predictor

Pre-eclampsia complicates 5% to 8% of all pregnancies and annual incidence of pre-eclampsia is about 5% of all pregnancies around the world and is a significant cause of both maternal and fetal mortality and morbidity if left untreated.

According to previous studies, blood supply distribution within the uterus is not similar in central compared with lateral sites, thus site of implantation and the resulting location of the placenta are likely to have a profound effect on the pregnancy outcome.

The researchers conducted a case-control study over 1-year period at a referral obstetric hospital in the south of Tehran. Overall, 121 females with three degrees of pre-eclampsia were considered as cases and 258 females with normal pregnancy were the controls. The females were aged 20 to 40 years old and their gestational age was between 14 and 26 weeks.

The researchers recorded the participants’ blood pressures and locations of placenta during this period with consideration of their past and present obstetric history as well as medical and familial history. As a result, pregnancies complicated by pre-eclampsia were more commonly associated with lateral placentation in the second trimester when compared with non-preeclampsia pregnancies.

This study suggests that placental location, which is easily assessed at middle trimester of pregnancy by routine screening ultrasonography, is an ideal predictive test for evaluating the risk of developing pre-eclampsia.