Placental Pathology?

[amjon]

What would the placental pathology look like in someone with HEELP syndrome or preeclampsia? I just picked up my report today and don't really know what I'm looking for. It did say there were fairly large clots (2.5X6cm) on the outer surface (2-3 mm thick). The maternal side was torn red-brown cotyledons. Fetal membranes were dusky bluish-gray. Cross sections were soft spongy pale pink to red-brown parenchyma. The weight was 282 grams. (I was 27 weeks at delivery.) Does this sound like any indication of preeclampsia or is it normal? My daughter had already passed when I was induced to deliver.

[kerisue]

I hope someone else has more answers for you, the only thing I can tell you is what I remember from reading my placental pathology report and that is that the placenta was very small for baby's gestational age (she had fetal growth restriction so this makes sense). It's so tough when all we want are answers about why this happened and how to prevent it in the future.

[LalaPants]

Hi amjon. I'm sorry for the loss of your daughter. I pulled out my pathology report and will copy the portion referring to the placenta below. I had HELLP and pre-e at 22 weeks and had been having symptoms (URQ pain) for several days before we went to the hospital. My son had already passed when we went to the ER. For the record, my OB commented on the placental clotting when he delivered me and said that it was most likely what caused my son's death. I developed HELLP first - I don't think that my blood pressure or protein started to go up until I was admitted and being induced. Because I described the URQ pain as being like bad heartburn (because it felt localized behind my sternum), nobody thought it was anything to worry about, and I suspect I would have been sent home from the hospital if my son hadn't already passed.

Weight 180g. Fetal membrane is pink bluish with a few whitish discolored areas in subchorionic plate and less developed vasculature. The maternal surface is rough and irregular, cotyledons are less well developed. There is a yellow0whitish discoloration area occuypying about 30% of the placenta. Sectioning reveals a 4 x 2 cm area of hemmorhage in the parenchyma.