Clinical Presentation and Risk Factors Associated with Placental Abruption

Objectives: To illustrate the pattern of clinical presentation in placental abruption and to seek association of various factors with abruption of placenta. Study design: Case control study. Setting: This study was conducted in the department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Unit-1, Jinnah Hospital, Lahore. Duration of study: This study was conducted over a period of one year from 24-04-06 to 23-04-07. Subjects and methods: 64 cases and 64 controls were included in the study. Cases were the patients with abruptio after 24 weeks of gestation and control were the patients presenting > 24 weeks of gestation without any bleeding/abruptio. Results: In group-A (cases), and group-B (controls) mean age was 31.3 +/- 6.7 and 27.4 +/- 4.5, respectively. Raised diastolic blood pressure (> 90 mmHg) was recorded in 48 patients (75%) in group-A and in 9 patients (14.9%) in group-B. Gestational diabetes mellitus was found to be in 6 patients (9.4%) in group-A and 1 patient (1.6%) of GDM was found in group-B. Distribution of multiple pregnancy shows 3 patients (4.7%) in group-A and 1 patient (1.6%) in group-B. Polyhydramnios was present in 6 patients (9.4%) in group-A and in 3 patients (4.7%) in group-B. Conclusions: Haemorrhage is the main presenting complaint. Increasing age and parity has significant association with placental abruption.