Effect of Acute Placenta Inflammatory Changes on Fetal Outcome among Paturients in Nigeria

Introduction: The placenta unit is significant for the survival of the fetus. Infections from the mother can cause histologically identifiable inflammatory changes in the placenta, which may adversely affect the fetus.

Aim: To identify the inflammatory changes in the placenta and its effect on fetal outcome.

Study Design: Cross sectional study.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Department of Anatomical pathology of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching hospital, between 1st September – 31st of December, 2015.

Methods: Histological analysis of 189 placenta tissues of singleton birth paturients was carried out. The sociodemographic characteristics of patients and the fetal outcome was collated and analyzed. The information obtained was processed using the SPSS version 20 software and Epi info software version 7. Results were presented in tables; test of association was done using student’s t-test with P value < 0.05 set as significant.

Results: The mean age of patients was 30.9±4.6 years with age range of 19-48years. Acute placental inflammatory changes of varying grades were noted in 64.6%(122) of placenta with severe inflammatory changes constituting 8.5%(16) of all examined placentae. Severely inflamed placenta was associated with birth asphyxia (P=0.0000033) and fetal demise (P=0.0352).

Conclusion: Acute inflammatory changes are common among paturients in Port Harcourt Nigeria. These changes in placenta are associated with birth asphyxia and fetal demise especially when they are severe.