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 methacrylate-embedded vertical sections were utilized to estimate parameters of placental structures with stereological methods. Materials were divided into three groups based on maternal hemoglobin levels: anemic (hemoglobin<100g/l), intermediate and non-anemic (hemoglobin>or=110g/l).


RESULTS
Placental volume and absolute volume of the intervillous 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 space or the villi. No significant difference, however, was found between the groups in the volume fraction or surface density of placental structures.


CONCLUSIONS
Placental hypertrophy was associated with mild and moderate degree of maternal iron-deficiency anemia and the enlargement of placenta appeared to be a uniform (proportional) physiological compensatory growth.
Huang
A
A
Morphometric Research Laboratory, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, Sichuan 637007, China.
Zhang
R
R
Yang
Z
Z
D000328:Adult; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000473:pathology*; D002824:Chorionic Villi / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D006984:Hypertrophy; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D010920:Placenta / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011250:Pregnancy Complications, Hematologic / Q000473:pathology*; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin / Q000032:analysis; D016610:Tissue Embedding
D006454:Hemoglobins; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin