Placental size of small-for-gestational-age infants at term.

Placental size was compared between appropriate-for-gestational age (AGA) and small-for gestational age (SGA) infants born at term. Placental weight, chorionic plate area and villous surface area were significantly reduced in the SGA infants. Although the ratio of placental weight to birth was similar in the AGA and SGA infants, the latter had significantly underweight placentas for their head circumference and crown-heel length. The ratios of placental weight to assessed brain weight and villous surface area to assessed brain weight were also significantly reduced in the SGA infants. It is concluded that the study SGA infants had both absolutely and relatively small placentas.