Role of Placental laterality as a Predictive Tool for Preeclampsia

Abstract

Objective: To study role of Ultrasound determined placental laterality as a predictor of preeclampsia

Methods: This prospective study was conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, VMMC

& Safdarjang Hospital, New Delhi from Feb 2019 to July 2019. Three hundred pregnant women attending

antenatal clinic both OPD and IPD between 16 to 20 weeks of gestation without any high risk factor were

subjected to ultrasound examination as a part of routine antenatal examination and placental location was

determined. These cases were followed up for the development of preeclampsia.

Results :Out of the 300 women studied 241 had central placenta (Group A) and 59 had laterally located

placenta (group B).Out of 59 women with lateral placenta, 29 (49.2%) developed preeclampsia while out

of the 241 women with central placenta only 19 (7.88%) developed preeclampsia. This was statistically

significant (p value<0.0001). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive

value of placental laterality as a predictor for preeclampsia was 64.18%, 83.19%, 53.16% and 88.64%

respectively.

Conclusion: Placental laterality by ultrasound d at 16-20 weeks; is a simple, cheap and effective method

,establishing its role as early predictor of pre-eclampsia.