In vitro fertilization is associated with placental accelerated villous maturation

Ambrogio P Londero; Maria Orsaria; Nadia Parisi; Alice Tassi; Carla Pittini; Lorenza Driul; Laura Mariuzzi

In vitro fertilization is associated with placental accelerated villous maturation

Int J Clin Exp Pathol. 2021 Jun 15;14(6):734-740. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Ambrogio P Londero¹, Maria Orsaria², Nadia Parisi¹, Alice Tassi¹, Carla Pittini³, Lorenza Driul¹, Laura Mariuzzi²

Affiliations

¹ Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynecology, DAME, University of Udine, University Hospital of Udine Italy.
² Institute of Pathology, DAME, University of Udine, University Hospital of Udine Italy.
³ Unit of Neonatology, University Hospital of Udine Italy.

PMID: 34239675
PMCID: PMC8255202

Abstract

Objective: Accelerated placental maturation is regarded as a sign of vascular malperfusion and is often interpreted as a compensatory response by the placenta. In vitro embryo culture affects placental development. This study assessed placental maturation in spontaneous conceived and in vitro conceived pregnancies.

Methods: Retrospective cohort study on a single center between 2014 and 2017. For this study, preterm placentas of singleton pregnancies between 24 and 36 weeks were considered. Routine placental examinations were retrospectively reviewed.

Results: During the considered period, 423 placentas of singleton pregnancies were assessed. Three hundred ninety-six placentas were from spontaneous conception and 20 from in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF/ET). IVF/ET was significantly associated with accelerated villous maturation (AVM) and distal villous hypoplasia (DVH) (P<0.05).

Conclusions: Placental AVM and DVH were significantly associated with in vitro fertilization in singleton pregnancies. This result supports the hypothesis that AVM is a compensatory response by the placenta to improve its transport capacity in specific settings such as in vitro fertilization.

Keywords: Hypermaturation; accelerated villous maturation; distal villous hypoplasia; hypobranching; hyporamification; in vitro fertilization; placenta; placental maturation.