Morphometrical analysis of placental functional efficiency in normotensive versus preeclamptic South African black women

Objective: To assess the umbilical cord centrality, placental morphometrics, and functional efficiency in preeclampsia. Methods: Placental morphometry of normotensive (n = 69) and preeclamptic (n = 69) patients was evaluated. Results: There was a significant reduction in mean placental surface area (p = 0.0001), length (p = 0.0001), thickness (p = 0.016), and volume (p = 0.0001) in the preeclamptic than in the normotensive groups. Umbilical cord insertion was predominantly eccentric with marginal in early (29%) and late-onset preeclampsia (16%). Placental and birth weight was lower (p = 0.0001) in preeclampsia than in the normotensive group. Placental efficiency was reduced in early-onset preeclampsia. Conclusion: This study demonstrates reduced placental morphometrics with impaired placental efficiency in preeclampsia.