Abruptio placentae: risk factors and perinatal outcome.

OBJECTIVE: It is a case control study, conducted in order to determine the risk factors, and to find out the perinatal outcome of abruptio placentae in women delivered at the Princess Badeea Teaching Hospital in North Jordan.

METHODS: We reviewed all cases of placental abruption delivered between 15th April 1994 till 26 November 1995 and to compare that with pregnancies and deliveries not complicated by abruptio placentae.

RESULTS: During the study period there were 108 cases of abruptio placentae and 108 cases of the control group. The total number of women delivered were 18,256, so the incidence of abruptio placentae was 5.9 per 1000 births. When compared to the control group, abruptio placentae occurred more in parous women (para > or = 5) (p < 0.0005), more preterm deliveries (p < 0.0001) with more birth weight < 2,500 g (p < 0.0001). Preeclampsia and pregnancy induced hypertension, intrauterine growth retardation, caesarean delivery, and intrauterine fetal death occurred more in patients with abruptio placentae.

CONCLUSION: High parity, preeclampsia and hypertension are significant etiological determinants of abruptio placentae.