CAN PLACENTAL SURFACE-AREA AND NEONATAL WEIGHT BE PREDICTED FROM PLACENTAL SURFACE MEASUREMENTS - PRELIMINARY-OBSERVATIONS ON NORMAL-TERM PREGNANCIES

Objective: To evaluate the relations between chorionic plate measureme nts and neonatal weight as prerequisites for possible prediction of fe tal weight using antenatal placental measurements. Methods: We examine d freshly delivered placentas. The surface area (chorionic plate) was measured using millimeter paper, and the two longest diameters (at rig ht angles to each other) were determined (L(1) and L(2)). The mean lon gest diameter [L(m) = (L(1) + L(2))/2] was calculated. The relation of these diameters to neonatal and placental weight was studied. Results : We examined 57 randomly selected placentas after normal pregnancy an d delivery. The three chorionic plate diameters significantly correlat ed with the surface area and the placental and neonatal weights. The s trongest correlation (r = 0.94; p < 10(-6)) was found between L(m) and placental surface area. Conclusions: Our preliminary results suggest that chorionic plate measurements may be suitable to predict placental surface area and neonatal birth weight in normal-term pregnancies. Fu rther studies to verify prospectively these relations at various gesta tional ages and in cases of abnormal fetal growth are required.