Placental histopathological findings in obese and nonobese women with complicated and uncomplicated pregnancies

Purpose: To investigate the role of placental abnormalities in complicated and uncomplicated pregnancies in obese women. Methods: Placentas from patients with complicated or uncomplicated pregnancies and a pregravid body mass index (BMI) of ≥30 kg/m² were analyzed histopathologically for lesions consistent with maternal and fetal circulation abnormalities and inflammatory lesions related to the maternal or fetal response. Findings were compared with a normal-weight control group matched by mode of delivery and presence/type of pregnancy complications. Results: The obese group consisted of 28 women of whom 46 % had a complicated pregnancy. The obese group had a higher rate of maternal inflammatory lesions than the normal-weight control group (43 vs. 3.6 %, p < 0.001). There was no difference between the obese women with complicated and uncomplicated pregnancies in mean placental weight or lesions associated with fetal or maternal vascular supply. Conclusion: Placental inflammatory lesions may underlie the worse pregnancy course of obese women relative to normal-weight women.