Placental histopathological findings in obese and nonobese women with complicated and uncomplicated pregnancies

Purpose To investigate the role of placental abnormalities in complicated and uncomplicated pregnancies in obese women. Methods Placentas from patients with complicated or uncomplicated pregnancies and a pregravid body mass index (BMI) of >= 30 kg/m(2) were analyzed histopathologically for lesions consistent with maternal and fetal circulation abnormalities and inflammatory lesions related to the maternal or fetal response. Findings were compared with a normal-weight control group matched by mode of delivery and presence/type of pregnancy complications. Results The obese group consisted of 28 women of whom 46 % had a complicated pregnancy. The obese group had a higher rate of maternal inflammatory lesions than the normal-weight control group (43 vs. 3.6 %, p < 0.001). There was no difference between the obese women with complicated and uncomplicated pregnancies in mean placental weight or lesions associated with fetal or maternal vascular supply. Conclusion Placental inflammatory lesions may underlie the worse pregnancy course of obese women relative to normal-weight women.