Placental Laterality as a Predictor of Preeclampsia

Objective: To study whether ultrasonically identified, placental laterality can be used as a predictor for development of preeclampsia.
Materials and Methods: This prospective study was conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chalmeda Ananda Rao Institute of Medical Sciences, Bommakal, Karimnagar from 2013 to 2014. 300pregnant women attending antenatal clinic both OPD and IPD at 18 to 24 weeks of gestation without any high risk factor were subjected to ultrasound examination, and placental location was determined. These cases were followed for the development of signs and symptoms of preeclampsia. Results: Out of the total 300 women, 168 (56 %) had laterally located placenta and of them, 112 (66.6 %) developed preeclampsia, while the remaining 112 (44 %) had centrally located placenta and of them, 48 (36.3 %) developed preeclampsia. So, the overall risk of developing preeclampsia with laterally located placenta was 5.09 (odds ratio) and 95 % confidence interval (2.40 to 10.88). The difference was found to be statistically significant, p value (0.00002) by chi-square test.
Conclusion: Ultra sonography is simple, non invasive, easy to perform, cost effective, diagnostic method to identify high risk cases. From the above study, we concluded that females with laterally located placenta determined by USG at 18 to 24 weeks of gestation have five times greater risk of developing preeclampsia. By identifying such patients appropriate treatment can be initiated and the patient’s are regularly followed up.

Author(s): Sandhya K., Madhavi G.B. and Chandramathi M.

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