Exploring the impact of HIV infection and antiretroviral therapy on placenta morphology.

INTRODUCTION

Women living with HIV experience more adverse birth outcomes; the mechanisms are not fully understood. We examined placenta morphology and associations with birth outcomes in a Canadian cohort of women living with HIV (HIV+) on antiretroviral therapy (ART) from conception and HIV-uninfected (HIV-) women.

METHODS

Term placentas from 94 women (40 HIV-, 54 HIV+) were studied. Trimmed placenta weight was collected. Placenta digital photos were used to compute morphometric parameters. Regression models investigated associations between log-transformed placenta parameters and birth outcomes.

RESULTS

We observed a trend towards lower placenta weight and smaller placenta area in the HIV+ group, both of which were significantly associated with small for gestational age births. HIV+ serostatus was associated with 6-fold (95%CI 2-20) greater odds of having placenta area in the lowest quartile (<236 cm2). Cord marginality (distance from the edge) was significantly lower in the HIV+ group (p = 0.004), with 35% of placenta having an abnormal (marginal or velamentous) cord insertion vs. 12.5% in the HIV- group (p = 0.01). Velamentous cord insertion was seen in 13% of placentas in the HIV+ vs. 0% in HIV- group (p = 0.02). A significant correlation between cord marginality and placenta thickness was observed in the HIV- group, with a more marginal cord being associated with a thicker placenta. This correlation was not observed in the HIV+ group. HIV+ placentas exposed to protease inhibitors were significantly less circular compared to the HIV- group (p = 0.03).

CONCLUSION

Our data suggest that HIV/ART exposure affects placenta morphology and is associated with higher rates of abnormal cord insertion.