Perinatal prognosis of pregnancies complicated by placental chronic villitis or intervillositis of unknown etiology and combined lesions: About a series of 178 cases

Introduction: The objective of this work was to evaluate and compare perinatal outcomes of pregnancies complicated by placental chronic intervillositis (CIUE) or villitis (CVUE) of unknown etiology and combined lesions.

Methods: Retrospective study of all cases of significant CVUE and CIUE occurring during a 12-year period in a university tertiary hospital center. Multiple pregnancies, infectious and medical termination of pregnancies (TOP) without intra-uterine growth restriction (IUGR) were excluded.

Results: 178 placentas were affected (78 cases of CVUE, 24 cases of CIUE and 76 cases of combined lesions involving both villitis and intervillositis) including 12 cases of recurrence. A disorder of fetal growth was found in 73% of cases and we noted 9.5% of cases of abortion. The rate of IUGR appeared to be significantly higher in case of CIUE with a fetal death risk five times higher. These complications seems to be related to more diffuse inflammatory infiltrates (p < 0.05). CVUE was associated with a significant morbidity with 42% of severe IUGR and severe alterations of umbilical artery Doppler in nearly one third of cases. Caesarean section was important (54.8%). Sixty-one percent of newborns were hospitalized and 11.4% in neonatal reanimation. In case of combined lesions, fetal outcomes appeared relatively close to those of CVUE. CVUE could recur in more severe forms or as CIUE with an increased risk for the fetus. Clinicoanatomic correlations were noted.

Discussion: Observation of recurrence of CVUE on CIUE or combined lesions and similar phenotypic characteristics of the infiltrates suggest that they could be two different stages of a same disease. CVUE remains a disease to be considered as serious. Association of small lesions of intervillositis does not change the prognosis. The severity of histological lesions and the initial obstetrical accident could be discriminatory to identify patients at risk of serious recurrence. Harmonized classification will be required.

Conclusions: This study confirms the higher morbidity of CIUE compared to CVUE but shows the necessity of monitoring pregnancies following an episode of CVUE, which are still at risk of serious and recurrent complications.