Lateral Placental Location as a Predictor of Preeclampsia Development: A Prospective Study

Abstract

Objective: To find whether placental laterality as determined by ultrasound can be used as a predictor of the development of preeclampsia and to find its correlation with severity of preeclampsia and obstetric outcome. Material and methods: Antenatal care (ANC) patients attending the ANC clinic at 18 to 24 weeks fulfilling inclusion criteria were included. The location of the placenta was determined by ultrasonography at 18 to 24 weeks. The placenta was classified as central when it is equally distributed on the left or right side of the uterus. When 75% of the placenta is to one side of the midline, it was classified as right or left lateral. All subjects were followed throughout pregnancy for the development of signs and symptoms of preeclampsia which was diagnosed as per ACOG criteria. Results: Among 397 women studied, 53 cases were diagnosed with preeclampsia, while remaining 344 women were normal. Out of 53 cases, 41 (77.3%) had mild preeclampsia, while12 (22.7%) had severe preeclampsia. Out of 397 women studied, 205 (51.63%) women had lateral placenta and 192 (48.36%) women had central placenta. Out of 205 women with lateral placenta, 38 (18.53%) women developed preeclampsia. Out of 192 women who had central placenta only 15 (7.81%) developed preeclampsia. Conclusion:Thus the present study concludes that the incidence of preeclampsia is 13.35%. The incidence of lateral placental location is 51.63%. Patients with lateral placenta show a higher incidence of development of preeclampsia that is 71.69%. Women with lateral placental location have 1.77 times greater risk of development of preeclampsia than ones with central placental location. Clinical significance: This cheap, simple, easy, and feasible investigation could be helpful not only to predict the development of preeclampsia but also to reduce its severity, maternal complications, and neonatal complications associated with it.