Quantitative (stereological) study of placental structures in women with pregnancy iron-deficiency anemia

Objective: To determine the compensatory morphometric changes of placental structures in cases of maternal iron-deficiency anemia. Methods: Placentas were obtained from a random sample of 26 full-term pregnant women, and meth acrylate-embedded vertical sections were utilized to estimate parameters of placental structures with stereological methods. Materials were divided in to three groups based on maternal hemoglobin levels: anemic (hemoglobin < 1 00 g/l), intermediate and non-anemic (hemoglobin <greater than or equal to> 110 g/l). Results: Placental volume and absolute volume of the intervillou s space or the chorionic villi per placenta significantly increased in the anemic group. There was a significant negative correlation between maternal hemoglobin level and absolute volume or surface area of the intervillous s pace or the villi. No significant difference, however, was found between th e groups in the volume fraction or surface density of placental structures. Conclusion: Placental hypertrophy was associated with mild and moderate de gree of maternal iron-deficiency anemia and the enlargement of placenta app eared to be a uniform (proportional) physiological compensatory growth. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.