Placental histology related to fetal brain sonography

Background Chronic hypoxia and inflammatory processes can induce placental disturbances that may indirectly lead to perinatal brain injury. Objective To study histological features of the placenta in relation to echogenicity changes in the periventricular white matter, ventricular system and basal ganglia/thalami of the fetal brain. Design Prospective study of 77 fetuses between 26 and 34 weeks gestational age with their placentas. The pregnancies were complicated by hypertensive disorders (n=42) or preterm labour (n=35). Results Of the placentas 79% showed uteroplacental hypoperfusion, inflammation or a combination. Transvaginal ultrasound examination of the brain revealed echogenicity changes in 73% of the fetuses (44 mild, 29 moderate). Moderate brain echogenicity changes (periventricular echodensity (PVE) grade IB: increased echogenicity brighter than choroid plexus, intraventricular echodensity (IVE) grade II and III: echodensity filling ventricle respectively