Background: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and their complications rank as the major cause of maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity. The placenta reflects the complications of hypertension and also provides the exact status of a baby’s gestational time. Materials and Methods: The study was carried out in Department of Anatomy, Rangpur Medical College, Rangpur from July 2014 to June 2015 on 60 (sixty) human placenta 30 from normotensive mothers (control group) and 30 from hypertensive mothers (hypertensive group). The placenta was selected from the obstetric ward of Gynecology and Obstetrics Department, Rangpur Medical College Hospital, Rangpur after taking written permission. Birth weight was recorded. The weight of the placenta was measured using standard procedure. Results: The mean (+ SD) of weight of placenta in hypertensive and control groups were (331.10 + 67.54 gm vs 436.27 + 55.61 gm, p<0.000). The mean (£SD) birth weight of baby in hypertensive and control groups were 2.24+0.51 kg vs 3.05£0.35 kg, (p<0.000) and the mean feto-placental weight ratio in hypertensive group was 6.87+1.42 and in control group 7.04+0.70. Conclusion: The weight of the placenta as well as birth weight of baby was reduced in pregnancies complicated with hypertension. The reduction of birth weight of the baby was proportional to the reduction of placental weight.

Placental weight, Birth weight, Hypertension in pregnancy.

The placenta is unique organ; it is fastest growing,’ short lived by design, its brief existence ensures survival of human fetus in the intrauterine environment,” The placenta performs diversity of functions, ranging from anchoring the fertilized ovum, preventing its rejection by the maternal immune system to enabling the transport of nutrients and wastes between the mother and fetus.* So, the wellbeing of the fetus is affected by many factors but a healthy placenta is the most important factor in producing a healthy baby. Yet most of the time following delivery, placenta is consequently set aside, forgotten or put into storage for subsequent disposal. Examination of the placenta gives a clear idea of what had happened in the mother’s womb and what is going to happen with the fetus in the future. The expelled mature placenta weighs 470g (range 200-800g),’ approximately one sixth of the birth weight of the baby.® The placental weight is a significant parameter reflecting fetal development during pregnancy and, on a population basis, may predict the development of diseases in adulthood.” Hypertension is one of the common complications of pregnancy and contributes significantly to maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity.* Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and their complications rank as the major cause of maternal mortality in the low-income countries of the world and accounts for 16%;” in Bangladesh 20%." In addition, hypertensive disorders are strongly associated with fetal growth restriction and prematurity.’ Pregnancy complicated by hypertension is commonly associated with placental insufficiency." Increased resistance to utero-placental circulation adversely affects the growth and structure of placenta.” This study reveals the changes in placental weight in relation to fetal outcome in pregnancies associated with hypertensive disorders in northern region of Bangladesh.