Study Finds Significant Placental Differences in Pre-eclamptic Women

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A novel clinical study conducted by UKZN Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Dr Kaminee Maduray, recorded significant differences in the placentas of new mothers who endured pre-eclamptic as opposed to normotensive pregnancies.

Pre-eclampsia is a pregnancy disorder characterised by high blood pressure and a large amount of protein in the urine.

Presented at the International Federation of Placenta Association’s Conference held in Australia, Maduray’s study was titled: “A Comparative Morphometric Evaluation of Normotensive and Pre-eclamptic Placenta from Pregnant South African Women”.

The study involved the photographing and analysing of 30 normotensive and 30 pre-eclamptic placentas at delivery.

Placentae of pre-eclamptic pregnancies showed more abnormalities with regards to shape and the presence of oedema – fluid retention – compared to the normotensive group, the study found.

The study also found the mean placental weight, thickness, diameter and volume in the normotensive group were 675 g, 1.6 cm, 27 cm and 1024 cm³ while those in the pre-eclamptic group were 577 g, 1.5 cm, 25 cm and 743 cm³.

Maduray said: ‘Eccentric insertion of the umbilical cord was predominant in the normotensive (60%) compared to the pre-eclamptic (45%) group. Marginal insertion of the umbilical cord was found in 27% and 28% of the normotensive and pre-eclamptic group respectively; whilst central insertion was noted in 13% of the normotensive and 10% in the pre-eclamptic group. Velamentous insertion occurred in the pre-eclamptic but was absent in the normotensive pregnancies.’

The study highlighted that the mean placental weight, thickness, diameter and volume were significantly lower in pre-eclampsia compared to normotensive pregnancies, and Maduray was applauded by the delegates as well as her supervisors, Professor Jack Moodley and Professor Anita Naicker, for her contribution to on-going research on pre-eclampsia.

Maduray received an Intercontinental Award from Connect Africa Scholarships Programme issued by the KwaZulu-Natal Research Institute for Tuberculosis and HIV to present her findings at the IFPA conference.

She said pre-eclampsia was one of the major direct causes of maternal mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. While the pathology of pre-eclampsia was not fully understood, delivery of the placenta resolved all clinical symptoms and signs, making the placenta a vital organ in understanding the pathogenesis of pre-eclampsia.

‘The opportunity to talk and network with renowned scientists in the field of placentology and pre-eclampsia abroad was fantastic. It helped promote new research questions that will complement my work,’ said Maduray whose passion is to contribute to solving major health related issues in South Africa. 

She said she intended to continue with academic research to increase the body of scientific knowledge on medical topics such as pre-eclampsia, HIV and cancer.

Lunga Memela