Relationship between birth weight to placental weight ratio and major congenital anomalies in Japan

Abstract

Recent studies have indicated that birth weight to placental weight (BW/PW) ratio is related to perinatal outcomes, but the effect of congenital abnormalities on BW/PW ratio remains unclear. We performed this study to elucidate correlations between BW/PW ratio and congenital abnormalities. Subjects were 735 singleton infants born at 34–41 weeks of gestation admitted to our center between 2010 and 2016. Of these, 109 infants (15%) showed major congenital anomalies. Major congenital anomalies and subgroups were diagnosed according to European Surveillance of Congenital Anomalies criteria. The primary outcome was the association between BW/PW ratio and major congenital anomaly, and secondary outcomes were the distribution pattern of BW/PW ratio with major anomalies and by major anomaly subgroups in each categorization (<10th percentile, 10–90th percentile, or >90th percentile) of BW/PW ratio. BW/PW ratio was not associated (P = 0.20) with presence (adjusted mean BWPW ratio = 5.02, 95% confidence interval [CI] 4.87–5.18) or absence (adjusted mean BW/PW ratio = 4.91, 95%CI 4.85–4.97) of major anomalies, after adjusting for gestational age and sex. Proportions of infants with major anomalies according to BW/PW ratio categories were as follows: 12% in <10th percentile, 15% in 10–90th percentile, and 25% in >90th percentile of BW/PW ratio. Among major anomalies of the nervous system, congenital heart defects, and orofacial clefts, BW/PW ratio showed equally distributed trend across the three BW/PW ratio categories, but showed unequally distributed trend for anomalies of the digestive system, other anomalies/syndromes, or chromosomal abnormalities. BW/PW ratio was not associated with major congenital anomaly, and was distributed diffusely according to major anomaly subgroups. Major anomalies may tend to aggregate in the 90th percentile of the BW/PW ratio.

Influence of maternal psychological distress during COVID-19 pandemic on placental morphometry and texture

“…In addition, the highest quintile of birth weight to placental weight ratio was associated with higher uterine artery Doppler mean pulsatility index and umbilical artery Doppler pulsatility index later in gestation 23 . Major congenital anomalies have been linked to higher (> 90th) percentiles of birth-weight-to-placental-weight ratio 83 . The impact of altered placental morphometry during pandemic on infant neurodevelopmental outcomes merits further investigation.…”

Paternal age impairs in vitro embryo and in vivo fetal development in murine

“…Recent studies indicate that the ratio of human newborn to placental weight may be related to perinatal changes; a higher ratio indicates insufficient oxygen to the fetus and a lower ratio suggests a suboptimal fetal condition 45 , 46 . In the study by Denomme et al senile male mice were found to have a higher fetal: placental weight ratio compared to their youth 42 .…”

“…Results of the present study indicate that senile males present a decrease in reproductive performance. In consonance, in humans, paternal age can be associated with increased prevalence of comorbid conditions of urological character (decrease sperm motility, percentage of normal sperm morphology, sperm concentration, and increased sperm DNA fragmentation and ejaculatory dysfunction) 49 – 51 , which affect reproductive potential, fertility 46 , low conception rates to poor offspring health 52 .…”

Association of maternal thyroid peroxidase antibody during pregnancy with placental morphology and inflammatory and oxidative stress responses

“…Placental morphology was significantly associated with placental function, and abnormal placental morphological indicators were related with the increased risk of pregnancy complications (17,18). In previous studies, limited studies have focused on the effect of maternal TPOAb presence on placental morphology during pregnancy and findings were controversial (19)(20)(21).…”