Thrombophilia is not associated with an increase in placental abnormalities in women with intrauterine fetal death.

Obstet Gynecol Surv. 2004 Aug;59(8):566-7.
  
Thrombophilia is not associated with an increase in placental abnormalities in 
women with intrauterine fetal death.

Morssink LP, Santema JG, Willemse F.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical Center Leeuwarden; and the 
Department of Pathology, Laboratory for National Health Friesland, The Netherlands.

Maternal thrombophilic disorders now are recognized as risk factors for such 
pregnancy complications as severe preeclampsia, placental abruption, intrauterine 
growth retardation, and intrauterine fetal death (IUFD). Conceivably, a 
vasculopathy of the spiral arteries of the placental bed limits uteroplacental 
blood flow and disrupts placental development. This study examined the 
association between maternal thrombophilia factors (protein S deficiency, protein 
C deficiency, activated protein C resistance, anticardiolipin antibodies, 
antithrombin III deficiency, lupus anticoagulant) and histologic abnormalities 
of the placenta. This case-control study enlisted 50 women who experienced an
IUFD. Thrombophilia factors were sought at least 6 weeks after delivery. A 
thrombophilia factor was identified in 8 of the 50 women studied (16%). There 
were no significant differences between women with and those without thrombophilia 
in birth weight, gestational age, parity, the number of small- or 
large-for-gestational age infants, or placental abruption. Mean placental volume 
and weight also were comparable in the 2 groups, and there was no significant 
difference in the frequency of lesions associated with impaired uteroplacental 
circulation. These lesions include infarction, ischemic change, and perivillous 
fibrin deposition. In this case-control study of women whose pregnancies 
culminated in IUFD, no significant association was found between the presence in 
maternal blood of thrombophilia factors and placental abnormality. It remains 
possible, however, that thrombophilia factors are related in some way to 
inadequate adaptation of the uteroplacental system.

PMID: 15277876 [PubMed - in process]


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