Gross morphometry of the placenta in normotensive and preeclamptic pregnancies and its correlation with fetal outcome: A comparative cross-sectional study in Northeast India

Introduction: Preeclampsia is primarily a placental disorder, but the relationship between individual gross placental parameters and fetal outcome remains incompletely understood.Aim and Objectives: To compare gross placental morphometry between normotensive and preeclamptic pregnancies and evaluate its relationship with fetal outcome.Materials and Methods: This comparative cross-sectional study included 52 placentae from preeclamptic and 52 from normotensive singleton pregnancies. Placental weight, maximum diameter, central thickness, cotyledon number, umbilical cord length and insertion, infarction, and retroplacental hematoma were assessed along with birth weight and Apgar scores. Group differences were analysed using the Welch t-test and chi-square. Multiple linear regression was performed to assess the association between placental morphometry and birth weight, adjusting for gestational age.Results: Placental weight, maximum diameter, central thickness, and cotyledon number were significantly lower in preeclamptic pregnancies (all p < 0.001), whereas umbilical cord length did not differ significantly. Cotyledon number showed a marked between-group difference (13.44 ± 1.54 vs 16.96 ± 1.30; p < 0.001). Birth weight correlated strongly with cotyledon number (r = 0.83) and placental weight (r=0.82), and these associations remained significant after adjustment for gestational age. Placental infarction was more frequent in preeclampsia (34.6% vs 1.9%).Conclusion: Gross placental morphology is significantly altered in preeclampsia. Cotyledon number showed the greatest difference between groups and was strongly associated with birth weight, independent of gestational age.