Placental calcification

Introduction The normal placenta is not calcified. Only the disease of expired pregnancy, pregnancy-induced hypertension, chronic nephritis, etc., the tissue cells undergo degeneration and necrosis due to ischemia and hypoxia, and calcium deposits on the necrotic site to form placental calcification. Therefore, placental calcification means that the function of the placenta to transport nutrients is reduced. When the calcification is severe, the oxygen supply and nutrition of the placenta can not meet the fetal development, the fetus may have intrauterine distress, growth and development stop, or even death, so placental calcification is harmful to the fetus.

Cause

Placental calcification is caused by focal infarction in the late placenta of pregnant women. The more infarcts, the more calcifications appear, and the more intense spots appear under B-ultrasound. In the B-ultrasound test, the degree of calcification can be divided into three degrees according to the distribution of placental calcification spots, namely, I degree, II degree, and III degree. The calcification of the B-ultrasound diagnosis is not necessarily consistent with the actual situation, and the diagnosis must be based on the postpartum examination of the placental calcification area.

According to the research report, after 33 weeks of gestation, more than half of the calcifications of the placenta begin to occur in different degrees. This calcification can be revealed by ultrasound, and placental calcification is related to fetal lung maturation.

an examination

Related inspection

Detection of trace elements in placenta-derived obstetric B-ultrasound

After the third trimester of pregnancy and expired pregnancy

Placental calcification often occurs after the third trimester of pregnancy, most commonly in the placenta of an expired pregnancy. As the placenta grows with the number of weeks of pregnancy, it begins to age and degeneration, and localized infarction necrosis occurs. The necrosis is later converted into calcified substances.

Calcification degree 1 to 3 degrees

According to the size and condition of placental calcification spots, we can distinguish calcification into 3 degrees. The first degree refers to slight, while the third degree refers to severe.

Check the ultrasound to see

Ultrasound examination of calcification is generally not accurate. To confirm, it must be determined according to the actual examination of the placental calcification area after delivery of the placenta.

Affect the lowering of placental blood flow

The adverse effect of placental calcification is a decrease in placental blood flow, leading to a decrease in placental function. Under normal circumstances, late pregnancy or even expired, ultrasound examination will more or less find the placenta has 1 to 2 degrees of calcification, which is an inevitable phenomenon during this period, is also an indirect characterization of the fetus has near term or expired.

Treatment of birth or termination of pregnancy

Placental calcification does not necessarily result in loss of placental function, endangering the fetus. In the event of a third degree of severe calcification combined with oligohydramnios or other abnormal symptoms, it may represent placental dysfunction and may harm the fetus. At this time, it is necessary to consider induction of labor and termination of pregnancy.

Placental function monitoring 3

Obstetricians will use some methods to monitor placental function.

1. Ask the pregnant woman to count the frequency of fetal movement: Because fetal movement is closely related to placental function, if the placental function is reduced, the fetus will have less activity due to chronic hypoxia.

2. Fetal heart rate and uterine contraction monitoring: generally use non-pressurized test, fetal heart rate acceleration changes during fetal movement is a normal reaction, representing a healthy placenta in the next week.

3. Ultrasonic examination: The examination includes items such as fetal size, degree of placental calcification, amount of amniotic fluid, physiological activity assessment, etc. It can also detect the condition of the fetus and placenta.

Differential diagnosis

Placental aging is the maturity of the placenta, which refers to the degree of aging of the placenta. The lower the maturity, the better the function of the placenta and the more nutrients it can provide for the baby. Expired pregnancy is the most common cause of aging of the placenta. At this time, the placental function is reduced, and its material exchange ability can not meet the needs of the already enlarged fetus, which will lead to fetal distress and endanger the fetus.

Whether the placental calcification must be delivered in advance depends on the gestational age, the extent and function of placental calcification, and the intrauterine condition of the fetus. If the baby is still less than the month, the placental calcification is more limited, the placenta is functioning well, and the fetus is not hypoxic in the uterus, you can wait properly; if the baby has been full term, or after checking the placenta function has been reduced, or the baby is already missing in the palace Oxygen performance requires timely delivery. Whether it is waiting or giving birth in advance, it is necessary to closely monitor. The number of fetal movements per day is the easiest method. If the fetal movement is reduced, you should go to the hospital for examination. At the same time, the number of prenatal examinations should be increased.

The material in this site is intended to be of general informational use and is not intended to constitute medical advice, probable diagnosis, or recommended treatments.