Growth-restricted fetuses with complications of pregnancy exhibit significantly increased
perinatal morbidity and mortality compared with normal growth fetuses. Coagulation-related
lesions such as uteroplacental vessel thrombosis and perivillous coagulation in the
placentas with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) are reported in complicated
pregnancy, while fibrin depositions and intervillous thrombi are observed in half
of the placentas of full-term uncomplicated pregnancy. These observations raise the
question whether coagulation in the placental circulation is a cause for the development
of IUGR. Recently published IUGR models in animals demonstrate that antiphospholipid
antibodies and procoagulant platelet-derived phospholipids induce IUGR with histopathological
changes of coagulation-related lesions in the placenta. These experiments suggest
that enhanced coagulation in the placental circulation can induce IUGR and that hypercoagulable
states remain one of the important factors in the development of IUGR.
Intrauterine growth restriction - thrombosis - hypercoagulability - coagulation -
placental circulation