Decidual macrophages and Hofbauer cells in fetal growth restriction.

Placental macrophages, which include maternal decidual macrophages and fetal Hofbauer cells, display a high degree of phenotypical and functional plasticity. This provides these macrophages with a key role in immunologically driven events in pregnancy like host defense, establishing and maintaining maternal-fetal tolerance. Moreover, placental macrophages have an important role in placental development, including implantation of the conceptus and remodeling of the intrauterine vasculature.

Perinatal mortality rate and adverse perinatal outcomes presumably attributable to placental dysfunction in (near) term gestation: A nationwide 5-year cohort study.

Introduction: Placental dysfunction can lead to perinatal hypoxic events including stillbirth. Unless there is overt severe fetal growth restriction, placental dysfunction is frequently not identified in (near) term pregnancy, particularly because fetal size is not necessarily small. This study aimed to evaluate, among (near) term births, the burden of hypoxia-related adverse perinatal outcomes reflected in an association with birth weight centiles as a proxy for placental function.

Practice variation in diagnosis, monitoring and management of fetal growth restriction in the Netherlands.

Objectives: Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is a condition characterized by its complexity in diagnosis and management. There is a need for early accurate diagnosis, evidence-based monitoring and management of FGR to improve neonatal outcomes. This study evaluated differences and similarities in protocols of Dutch hospitals in the approach of (suspected) FGR in the context of the national guideline.

Consensus Definition of Fetal Growth Restriction in Intrauterine Fetal Death: A Delphi Procedure.

Context.—: Fetal growth restriction is a risk factor for intrauterine fetal death. Currently, definitions of fetal growth restriction in stillborns are heterogeneous.

Building consensus and standards in fetal growth restriction studies.

Fetal growth restriction is a pathologic condition in which the fetus fails to reach its biologically based growth potential. There is inconsistency in terminology, definition, monitoring, and management, both in clinical practice and in the existing literature. This hampers interpretation and comparison of cohorts and studies.