title: Placental laterality as a predictor for development of preeclampsia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To find whether placental laterality as determined by ultrasound can be used as predictor for the development of preeclampsia.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective study was conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Govt. Medical College, Jammu from 2006 to 2007. 150 pregnant women attending antenatal clinic both OPD and IPD at 18-24 weeks of gestation without any high risk factor were subjected to ultrasound examination, and placental location was determined. These cases were followed for the development of signs and symptoms of preeclampsia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of the total 150 women, 84 (56 %) had laterally located placenta and of them, 56 (66.6 %) developed preeclampsia, while the remaining 66 (44 %) had centrally located placenta and of them, 24 (36.3 %) developed preeclampsia. So, the overall risk of developing preeclampsia with laterally located placenta was 5.09 (odds ratio) and 95 % confidence interval (2.40-10.88). The difference was found to be statistically significant, p value (0.00002) by χ(2) test.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  From the above study, we concluded that females with laterally located placenta determined by USG at 18-24 weeks of gestation have five times greater risk of developing preeclampsia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, SMGS Hospital, Government Medical College, Shalamar, Jammu, India ; House No. 63, Nitco Lane, Talab Tillo, Jammu, India.
authors.forename: Tania
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kakkar
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, SMGS Hospital, Government Medical College, Shalamar, Jammu, India.
authors.forename: Virender
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, SMGS Hospital, Government Medical College, Shalamar, Jammu, India.
authors.forename: Rajni
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Razdan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, SMGS Hospital, Government Medical College, Shalamar, Jammu, India.
authors.forename: Sanjeev K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Digra
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, SMGS Hospital, Government Medical College, Shalamar, Jammu, India.
authors.forename: Amita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, SMGS Hospital, Government Medical College, Shalamar, Jammu, India.
authors.forename: Manisha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kakkar
keywords: Central placenta; Placental laterality; Preeclampsia