title: Placental pathology and neurological morbidity in preterm infants during the first two weeks after birth.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The placenta plays a crucial role during pregnancy and dysfunction causes long-term neurological problems. Identifying placenta-related risks for neurological problems shortly after birth may provide clues for early interventions aiming to improve neurological outcome.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the association between placental pathology and neurological morbidity in preterm infants during the first two weeks after birth.
  
  
  METHODS
  Placentas of 52 singleton, preterm infants (GA: 25-31weeks, BW: 560-2250 grammes) were examined for histopathology. The infants' neurological condition shortly after birth was determined by assessing the quality of their general movements (GMs): normal, abnormal, or hypokinetic, on days 5, 8, and 15. A motor optimality score (MOS) was also assigned.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Examination of the placentas revealed maternal vascular underperfusion (n=29), ascending intrauterine infection (AIUI) (n=19), villitis of unknown aetiology (n=6), chronic deciduitis (n=11), foetal thrombotic vasculopathy (FTV) (n=9), and elevated nucleated red blood cells (NRBCs) as a marker for foetal hypoxia (n=7). None of the placental lesions were significantly associated with the quality of GMs or MOS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study indicated that placental lesions were not associated with infants' neurological condition as measured by the quality of their general movements during the first two weeks after birth.
authors: Division of Neonatology, Beatrix Children's Hospital, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: a.m.roescher@umcg.nl.
authors: A M
authors: AM
authors: Roescher
authors: Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Timmer
authors: Division of Neonatology, Beatrix Children's Hospital, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors: M M
authors: MM
authors: Hitzert
authors: Department of Paediatrics, Medical Centre Leeuwarden, Leeuwarden, The Netherlands.
authors: N K S
authors: NK
authors: de Vries
authors: Division of Neonatology, Beatrix Children's Hospital, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors: E A
authors: EA
authors: Verhagen
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors: J J H M
authors: JJ
authors: Erwich
authors: Division of Neonatology, Beatrix Children's Hospital, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors: A F
authors: AF
authors: Bos
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000254:growth & development; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D010922:Placenta Diseases / Q000473:pathology; D011247:Pregnancy
keywords: AIUI; BW; FTV; GA; GMs; General movements; MOS; MVU; NRBC; PPROM; Placental pathology; Preterm infants; SNAPPE; VUE; ascending intrauterine infection; birth weight; foetal thrombotic vasculopathy; general movements; gestational age; maternal vascular underperfusion; motor optimality score; nucleated red blood cells; preterm pre-labour rupture of the membranes; score of neonatal acute physiology perinatal extension; villitis placenta of unknown aetiology