Researchers Look Into Risk Factors for Placental Abruption

It’s been established that women carrying twins are more likely to experience placental abruption than women carrying singletons. However, a group of researchers from UTHealth in the U.S. have looked at other risk factors that might contribute to this increase. Placental abruption is when the placenta separates early from the uterus, before childbirth. The results of the study were published in Obstetrics & Gynecology. The study included women between 18 and 39 years of age with placental abruption. Some had been pregnant with twins, others had been pregnant with singletons.

Chorioamnionitis is a major risk factor

The researchers looked at risk factors for placental abruption such as smoking, drug use, premature rupture of membranes (PPROM), chorioamnionitis and preterm labor. Chorioamnionitis is a bacterial infection or inflammation of the fetal amnion and chorion membranes.The researchers found that the incidence of smoking, alcohol and drug use, preeclampsia and diabetes did not differ between singleton and twin gestations. However, 44 percent of the women pregnant with twins gave birth prematurely. Only 13 percent of the women pregnant with singletons gave birth prematurely. The researchers also found that even after adjusting for preterm labor, the incidence of chorioamnionitis was still significantly increased for twin gestations.