Villitis of unknown aetiology: Clinical implications in preterm population.

Villitis of unknown aetiology (VUE) is a chronic inflammatory process of chorionic villi which is reported to occur in up to 15% of term placentas. The present study aimed to investigate the association between VUE and perinatal complications in a population who delivered before term. Patients with VUE had a significantly higher rate of intrauterine growth restriction than the control group (47.1% vs. 20.6%, p < 0.01). In addition patients with VUE had a higher rate of deliveries due to absent diastolic flow on umbilical artery doppler than the control group (17.6% vs. 4.4%, p: 0.03). The rate of spontaneous preterm birth or pre-eclampsia was similar in patients with VUE and control groups. The present study provides some evidence that VUE is associated with abnormal perinatal outcomes in pregnant women who give birth before term.