Understanding Placental Changes in Stillbirth
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Can Placental Structure and Morphology Characterise Inflammatory Causes of Stillbirth?
IRAS ID
7236
Contact name
Alexander Heazell
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Manchester
Research summary
The frequency of stillbirth in the UK has not decreased for two decades affecting 1 in 200 births after 24 weeks of pregnancy. Women who experience a stillbirth are at increased risk of complications and poor outcome in subsequent pregnancies. Establishing a cause for stillbirth can assist with the management of subsequent pregnancies with aim of preventing recurrent complications. Using current classification systems for stillbirths, up to 30% are attributed to placental dysfunction. Women with stillbirths relating to the placenta often have little understanding of how to prevent complications in subsequent pregnancies.
The placenta is normally responsible for transferring oxygen and nutrients to the developing baby. In cases of stillbirth several different features have been described in the placenta. One of these features that has been associated with stillbirth is an inflammatory condition called villitis of unknown etiology (VUE). We wish to investigate placental tissue given with consent from post mortem investigations of stillbirths from the Manchester Childrens Hospital Pathology Department. We will investigate placental tissue from stillbirth whose cause of death is cited as VUE. This will determine whether there is a specific biological profile associated with this particular type of inflammation. We can then assess the severity of the condition in stillbirth by comparing it to other placentas where VUE is present but the outcome is normal.
We hope that the findings of this research will enable us to build a profile that could be used as a predictive tool during pregnancy. Additionally, this research will further our understanding of the complex physiological mechanisms involved in stillbirth. The PhD associated with this research is funded by Tommy’s charity.REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - South Yorkshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/YH/0176
Date of REC Opinion
21 May 2013
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion