Abnormal spiral arteries modification in stillbirths : the role of maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index

Aim: to evaluate the prevalence of abnormal spiral arteries modification (ASAM) in stillbirths and its anatomo-clinical correlations. Methods: 203 placentas of stillbirth ≥20 weeks of gestation were analysed. Results: ASAM was present in 69/203 cases (33.9%). The only maternal characteristic that significantly differed in ASAM versus normal spiral arteries modification (NSAM) cases was the pre-pregnancy body mass index (25.9±6.1 and 23.1±4.2 kg/m(2) respectively) with 15.9% of obesity in ASAM mothers versus 5.2% in NSAM (p=0.02). Conclusion: given the association between obesity and adverse pregnancy outcome, our data suggest that counselling obese women to lose weight before pregnancy becomes increasingly imperative.