Although placental infarction sounds like a technical medical term, anyone planning a baby should be aware of this topic. In short, it’s a disease where tissue death occurs in areas of the placenta—the organ that connects the mother to the fetus—due to insufficient blood flow. This may have an impact on the placenta’s performance, which is vital to the health of the unborn child.
It can be easier to manage and avoid potential complications if one is aware of the causes of placental infarction. It may be caused by a number of things, including high blood pressure, disorders of blood coagulation, or problems with placental blood flow. Pregnant parents can talk to their healthcare provider more effectively about their health and any concerns they may have if they are informed.
This article will discuss placental infarction, its possible causes, and the effects it may have on the mother and the unborn child. We’ll simplify things for you so that you can feel more prepared and confident.
| What is Placental Infarction? | Placental infarction occurs when a part of the placenta doesn"t get enough blood and starts to die. This can affect how well the placenta works to nourish the baby. |
| Causes of Placental Infarction | 1. High blood pressure in the mother. 2. Diabetes. 3. Blood clotting disorders. 4. Placental abruption. 5. Smoking or drug use. |
What is it?
Literally, from Latin, placenta is translated as "cake". This name is apparently associated with the shape that the organ takes after the expulsion of the fetus. The placenta has a lobular structure. The lobes are separated from each other by peculiar partitions. Each of the lobes has many small vessels. The organ is designed in such a way that two isolated circulatory systems converge in it. The umbilical cord is a cord-like structure that connects the fetus"s body to the placenta. The venous vessel of the umbilical cord carries arterial blood, and in the two arterial vessels, respectively, venous blood flows. All of them are surrounded by a specific substance that performs a protective function. Between the vascular systems of the mother and the child there is a barrier membrane, which is one layer of cells. Thanks to it, the blood flows of the mother and the child do not connect with each other.
The embryo is introduced into the endometrium, or mucous layer of the uterus, seven days after the male and female germ cells fuse together. During this phase, specific enzymes are generated that break down a particular region of the mucous membrane.
Part of the outer cells of the ovum begins to form villi. They are directed into cavities – lacunae that appear at the site of the disintegration of the endometrial vessels. The lacunae are filled with the mother"s blood, thanks to which the fetus is subsequently nourished. Further, extra -and -habitable formations are formed: chorion, amnion and yolk bag. This process is called placentation and lasts on average from 3 to 6 weeks. These structural components of the placenta will not form the tissues and organs of the child, however, its intrauterine functioning is impossible without them. The chorion will subsequently turn into the placenta, and the amnion into the amniotic sac.
The placenta begins to take on a disc shape by week 12, and by week 16, it has finished developing. The placenta grows larger as the fetus does, and as the pregnancy goes on, its structural density varies as well. In obstetrics, this process is referred to as "maturation." It guarantees the fetus’s complete intrauterine development and is wholly physiological.
- zero (often manifests itself at 30 weeks);
- first (manifests from 27 to 36 weeks);
- second (manifests from 34 to 39 weeks);
- third (manifests after 36 weeks).
The term "infarction" in medical terminology refers to the necrosis, or death, of a portion of organic tissue as a result of a continuous lack of blood supply. Like any other organ, the placenta has its own blood vessels that transport metabolic waste products and provide nutrients and oxygen to its tissues.
A blood vessel blockage and subsequent loss of patency are the underlying conditions that give rise to a heart attack. The organ’s tissues consequently start to suffer from a severe oxygen shortage. They carry on functioning for a while, adapting to a new metabolic pattern. Because of this, the working tissue can continue to exist as long as blood flow is restored soon.
After a while, the organ’s cells start to die off and a necrotic focus develops in their place if the reason why the blood flow in the vessel stopped cannot be found. Naturally, the organic structure’s functional ability in this area will be irreversibly lost.
The diameter and quantity of injured blood vessels determine the amount of necrotic tissue. One of the signs of age-related changes in the placenta is the formation of calcifications, or deposits of calcium salts in soft tissues, by the end of pregnancy from small, isolated foci of necrotic tissue formed in the first half of the gestation period.
Why it occurs?
Extensive placental infarctions can occur due to a number of pathological factors. They are typically linked to specific medical conditions that affect the expectant mother’s body.
- Diabetes mellitus type 1 and 2. Excess glucose in the blood thins the walls of blood vessels, causing them to become fragile and brittle. As a result, hemorrhage may occur and the blood supply to the placenta will be disrupted.
- Autoimmune processes. The pathological mechanism of this type of disease is that the cells of the immune system, instead of pathogenic microorganisms, begin to destroy the organic structures of the body itself. Vascular walls can also be damaged by autoantibodies.
- Arterial hypertension – persistent increase in blood pressure. The thin vessels of the placenta are damaged by high blood pressure.
- Infectious process. When a virus or bacteria enters the body of the expectant mother, it begins to secrete toxic substances that have a destructive effect on the vascular wall.
- Thrombophilia. In this case, blood clots form in the vessels of the placenta, which can partially or completely block their lumen and cause a disruption in the blood supply to the organ.
- Fat or gas embolism. Obstruction of blood vessels occurs with particles of fatty tissue (for example, when the integrity of large tubular bones is compromised) or an air bubble (usually occurs as a result of improper clinical measures).
- Toxicosis. Processes characteristic of pregnancy can also negatively affect the circulatory system of the placenta.
Symptoms
Subjective sensations are not a sign of placental infarction because the placenta lacks pain receptors.
This pathological process can occasionally cause severe bleeding to occur. A hematoma develops between the placenta and the uterine wall if the bleeding happens in the center of the placenta. In this instance, the pathological process’ localization site may cause pain for the woman.
Additionally, the doctor may observe the emergence of a dense formation on the anterior abdominal wall during a preliminary examination. Bloody vaginal discharge may be an indication that bleeding has started in the placenta’s peripheral regions.
A condition known as placental infarction occurs when tiny portions of the placenta sustain damage and aren’t given enough blood. This may affect the baby’s placenta’s ability to support it and result in complications. Being aware of the causes of placental infarction aids in managing and averting possible problems throughout pregnancy.
Placental infarction can be caused by a number of things. The risk can be raised by conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, or blood flow issues. Pregnant women should schedule routine checkups in order to detect possible issues early on and treat them successfully.
Even though placental infarction can be worrisome, many affected women who receive the right care go on to have healthy pregnancies. Pregnancy can be made safer for both mother and child if knowledge is maintained and collaboration with healthcare providers is key.
When a portion of the placenta’s blood supply is cut off, the tissue there dies and a placental infarction occurs. This may have an impact on the placenta’s ability to support the developing fetus. The primary causes include conditions that can impair appropriate blood flow, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or clotting disorders in the mother. To keep mother and child safe, it’s critical to keep an eye out for hazards and take care of any health issues.
