Placental Findings in Singleton Stillbirths: A Case-control Study

Aims This prospective observational study compared placental lesions of stillbirth cases and live birth controls, and aimed to determine the cause of stillbirth. Methods The study enrolled 85 stillbirths and 85 live births at the time of delivery. Results There was significantly increased incidence of placental abruption (p=0.005) and gestational diabetes (p=0.032) in mothers with stillbirths. Histopathological examination of placenta was significantly abnormal in stillbirths compared with live births (p=0.004). Delayed villous maturation was significantly more in stillbirths (38.82 vs. 16.47%; p=0.002). Acute (30.59 vs. 16.47%; p=0.04) and chronic diffuse villitis (16.47 vs. 4.7%; p=0.02), chorionic plate acute vasculitis (28.235 vs. 14.11%; p=0.04) were significantly more in stillbirths. Foetal vascular thrombi in the chorionic plate (30.58 vs. 14.12%; p=0.02) and avascular villi (24.7 vs. 8.23%; p=0.006) were significantly more in stillbirths. Conclusion These abnormal placental patterns could provide information about the etiopathogenisis in stillbirths of unknown aetiology.