CHORANGIOSIS AND CHORIOANGIOMA IN 3 COHORTS OF PLACENTAS FROM NEPAL, TIBET AND JAPAN

It has been reported that both chorangiosis and chorangioma are increa sed in placentas at high altitudes. In this study, 1.14% of 2448 Japan ese placentas obtained at 30-300 m had chorangiosis or chorangioma, co mpared with 3.24% of the Nepalese placentas (1300-3000 m) and 9.09% of the Tibetan samples (3800-4200 m). The incidence of both pathologies was significantly higher in the Himalayan groups than those of the Jap anese group (P < 0.05). Obstetric complications of the 28 Japanese pla centas with chorangiosis and chorangioma included Caesarean section 16 (57.1%), abruptio placentae 2 (7.14%), intrauterine growth retardatio n 3 (10.7%), intrauterine fetal death 4 (14.2%) and placenta praevia 4 (14.2%). Four infants (14.2%) had Apgar scores ranging from 0 to 3. A mong 48 Himalayan placentas with chorangiosis and chorangioma, inciden ce of marked subchorionic fibrin was significantly higher (25%) than i n the Japanese group (3.57%) (P < 0.05). The incidence of abnormal ins ertion of the cord was significantly higher (14.2%) in the Japanese gr oup than in the Himalayan group (5%) (P < 0.05). There was no signific ant difference in the frequencies of intervillous thrombosis and infar ction between the two groups. These findings suggest that the incidenc e of pathological change such as chorangiosis and chorangioma may be i ncreased in placentas at Himalayan altitudes.