Histopathological changes in the placentas of pregnant women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

Objectives: Placental damage might be the primary underlying cause of the high rates of fetal adverse outcomes in cases with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Histopathological changes were considered to be associated with GDM in the literature. However, there are also studies showing no changes in the placenta in some gestational diabetic women. The pathophysiology of these placental alterations remains elusive. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the histopathological changes in the placentas of patients with GDM and compare them with the placentas of the healthy control group. Material and methods: This experimental non-randomized case-control study was conducted with 40 GDM patients and 40 healthy pregnant women at Dicle University Faculty of Medicine between March 2023 and December 2023. Placental tissues obtained following cesarean delivery were subjected to routine tissue processing. Placental samples were stained with hematoxylin-eosin and examined histopathologically using a light microscope. Results: When histopathological findings were compared between the GDM and control groups, villous degeneration, congestion in blood vessels, fibrinoid accumulation, inflammation and intervillous hemorrhage were higher in the GDM group than in the control group (p<0.001). Conclusion: The intricate relationship between GDM and placental pathology underscores the profound impact of metabolic changes on placental structure and function throughout pregnancy. Understanding these pathological changes is crucial for elucidating the progression of GDM and its implications for maternal and fetal health, highlighting the importance of comprehensive placental analysis in managing pregnancies complicated by GDM. Keywords: Gestational diabetes, hematoxylin-eosin staining, histopathological examination