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Placental microcirculation of intrauterine growth retarded fetuses: scanning electron microscopy of placental vascular casts

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Abstract

Aim

The aim of this study is to investigate the ultra structural difference of placentas in IUGR fetuses that were all found to have abnormal umbilical artery Doppler waveforms.

Methods

Nine placentas from 7 IUGR fetuses and 2 from healthy normal fetuses were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy.

Results

All of the placentas of IUGR fetuses who had abnormal umbilical artery Doppler flow antenatally were found to have a prominent increase in the amount of total blood vessels; these aberrant blood vessels had a very tortuous course and they showed increased branching when compared with placentas from uncomplicated term pregnancies.

Conclusions

Our study showed that there is a clear difference in vascular ultra structure of the placentas of pregnancies with fetal growth restriction selected by abnormal umbilical artery Doppler flow test. IUGR seems to be a problem due to placental vascular insufficiency.

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Fig. 1a–d.
Fig. 2a–d.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. SSK Ankara Maternity Hospital, Ankara, Turkey

    Cem Baykal

  2. Department of Anatomy, Hacettepe University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey

    Mustafa F. Sargon & Selda Önderoğlu

  3. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hacettepe University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey

    İbrahim Esinler & Lütfü Önderoğlu

  4. Paris Cad. 37/9 Kavaklıdere, Ankara, Turkey

    Cem Baykal

Authors
  1. Cem Baykal
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  2. Mustafa F. Sargon
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  3. İbrahim Esinler
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  4. Selda Önderoğlu
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  5. Lütfü Önderoğlu
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Correspondence to Cem Baykal.

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Baykal, C., Sargon, M.F., Esinler, İ. et al. Placental microcirculation of intrauterine growth retarded fetuses: scanning electron microscopy of placental vascular casts. Arch Gynecol Obstet 270, 99–103 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-003-0511-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-003-0511-z

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