Placental Hypertrophy in Severe Pregnancy Anaemia*

Summary A prospective combined study of consecutive patients with severe pregnancy anaemia (haemoglobin value less than 8 g. per 100 ml.) was performed in five countries to determine the relationship between maternal anaemia and placental weight. Data were recorded in 732 pregnancies and the important finding was that placental hypertrophy was associated with maternal anaemia in all centres. There was a positive correlation between maternal anaemia and placental weight which was statistically highly significant; Melbourne and Thailand, P = 0·01; India, P<0·025; Singapore and New Guinea, P<0·001.