OBJECTIVE:

To analyze preterm and early term placentas of patients attended at the Maternity of the University Hospital for the evaluation of histopathological findings in view of weeks of gestation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Prospective, observational and descriptive study carried out at the Maternity Hospital of the Hospital de Clínicas between August 2015 and February 2016. The population was selected according to weeks of gestation and all births between 22 and 38 + 6-7 days of gestation were included. Twin pregnancy and fetal malformations were used as exclusion criteria. The statistical tests applied, according to the type of variables, were Student's t-test and 2 with Fisher's correction for small samples.

RESULTS:

410 births were registered: 130 early term (only 67 were evaluated) and 45 preterm (only 43 were evaluated). The main pathologic histologic finding in both populations was poor maternal vascular perfusion followed by 40% immature placentas in early term.

CONCLUSIONS:

The most frequent histopathologic finding was poor maternal vascular perfusion in both populations evaluated, perhaps due to the type of maternity with high medical obstetric risk. The knowledge of placental pathologies can orient towards the cause of prematurity and its classification, as well as help in decision making regarding the neonate and the future planning of another pregnancy.

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