1Ph.D Scholar, Department of Anatomy, Geetanjali Medical College & Hospital, Geetanjali University, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India. Email: drshivani1103@gmail.com
2Associate Professor, Department of Anatomy, Geetanjali Medical College & Hospital, Geetanjali University, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India. Email: anjalianat@gmail.com
3Professor and Head, Department of Pathology, Geetanjali Medical College & Hospital, Geetanjali University, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India. Email: mukhiyageeta@gmail.com
4Professor, Department of Anatomy, Pacific Institute of Medical Sciences, Rajasthan. Email: drprakashkg@gmail.com
*Corresponding Author: Dr. Shivani Upadhyay, Ph.D Scholar, Department of Anatomy, Geetanjali Medical College & Hospital, Geetanjali University, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India. Email: drshivani1103@gmail.com
Introduction: The placenta serves as a mirror of intrauterine health, reflecting both maternal and fetal metabolic status. Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) induces hyperglycemia-driven structural and vascular alterations in the placenta, influencing fetal outcomes. Evaluating the microscopic changes provides critical insight into placental adaptation and efficiency in diabetic pregnancies.
Aim: To observe the microscopic changes of placentae complicated by GDM and comparing the features with normal placenta.
Materials and methods: A hospital-based comparative cross-sectional study was conducted on 150 placentae—75 from GDM and 75 from healthy controls were collected immediately after delivery with prior informed consent. Detailed microscopic examinations were done on placentas from both the groups and the results were documented. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 25.0.
Results: On microscopic examination villous edema (p-value < 0.0001), villous immaturity (p-value <0.0001), nucleated RBCs inside the capillaries (p-value < 0.0001) were noted to be significantly higher in the GDM group.
Conclusion: This study shows significant microscopic changes in the GDM placentas, the most significant histological changes noted were the villous immaturity, thickened Basement Membrane (BM) and villous fibrinoid necrosis. These findings, consistent with published literature, underscore the need for careful metabolic control and placental monitoring in diabetic pregnancies to improve perinatal outcomes.
Keywords: Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, Placenta (GDM), Villous immaturity, Villous fibrinoid necrosis, crowding of villi, syncytial knots, Hofbauer cells, villous stromal fibrosis.
How to cite this article: Upadhyay S, Jain A, Mukhiya G W, Prakash K.G., Comparative Histopathological Study of Placentae in Normal Pregnancy and Gestational Diabetes Mellitus. Int J Drug Deliv Technol. 2026;16(12s): 218-225. DOI: 10.25258/ijddt.16.12s.22.
Source of support: Nil
Conflict of interest: None