Background and Relevance of Studying Morphological Changes in the Placenta during the Critical Period of 20-24 Weeks

Abstract

An article on the structure of the human placenta at 20-24 weeks of pregnancy emphasizes the importance of its features in connection with the differentiation of chorionic villi. Villous transformation, reduction of the barrier between maternal and fetal blood flow, and changes in placental morphology in preterm pregnancy were the main topics of discussion. Italian researchers found that the placenta in pregnancies of women aged 20-24 years was burdened with hyperplasia, a stromal component and other pathological changes, which can lead to various disorders in the fetus. Additionally, a study by researchers from Wayne State University of Michigan in the US discusses the association of maternal plasma angiogenic index with fetal death >24 weeks, suggesting its use in predicting such cases. This metric had a significant positive coefficient for predicting fetal death and was also associated with a variety of adverse fetal outcomes. The article also describes placental abnormalities associated with stillbirth and establishes the importance of identifying infants with fetal growth restriction (SGA), which is associated with reduced perinatal mortality. However, she also discusses the limitations of existing tests and methods for identifying children with SGA, highlighting the need for further research in this area.