Ansari T, Gillan J E, Condell D, Green C J, Sibbons P D
Department of Surgical Research, Northwick Park Institute of Medical Research, Northwick Park Hospital Harrow, Middlesex, HA1 3UJ, UK.
Early Hum Dev. 2004 Feb;76(2):127-38. doi: 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2003.11.004.
Morphometric oxygen diffusive conductance (Dp) was estimated to assess the potential efficiency of oxygen transfer across the materno-fetal interface in placentae obtained from victims of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
SIDS placentae were retrieved from archived storage and classified into normal birth weight (NBW, n=16), or small for gestational age (SGA, n=9) and compared against control placentae (n=40) or SGA (n=24) placentae. A combination of stereological techniques and physiological constants were used to estimate total Dp.
SIDS NBW cases showed a crucial reduction in fetal capillary surface area when compared with control placentae. SIDS SGA showed a number of deficiencies in basic volumetric and surface area parameters. Values for total and specific Dp in placentae in both SIDS groups were maintained at levels comparable with control and SGA cases, respectively.
Since more reductions were observed in SIDS SGA group, this suggests that factors responsible for these reductions maybe associated with SGA rather than being SIDS-specific factors.
