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Increased Syncytial Knot Formation

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Pathology of the Placenta

Abstract

Syncytial knots are a common histologic feature of the placenta. This overarching term includes four specific subtypes of syncytial knots, including syncytial sprouts, true knots, false knots and syncytial bridges. Wave-like syncytial knots represent a specific architectural arrangement of syncytial knots generally found at earlier gestational ages. Increased syncytial knots have long been associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, including preeclampsia and fetal growth restriction, and are a defining feature of maternal vascular malperfusion. More specifically, increased syncytial knots appear to arise in response to hypoxic or hypoxia-reperfusion injury to the placenta.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA

    W. Tony Parks

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  1. W. Tony Parks
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Correspondence to W. Tony Parks .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomical Pathology, Women’s and Children’s Hospital, North Adelaide, SA, Australia

    T. Yee Khong

  2. Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, National Maternity Hospital, Dublin, Ireland

    Eoghan E. Mooney

  3. Department of Pathology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Peter G. J. Nikkels

  4. Department of Pathology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA

    Terry K. Morgan

  5. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands

    Sanne J. Gordijn

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Parks, W.T. (2019). Increased Syncytial Knot Formation. In: Khong, T., Mooney, E., Nikkels, P., Morgan, T., Gordijn, S. (eds) Pathology of the Placenta. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-97214-5_17

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-97214-5_17

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-97213-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-97214-5

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