Distal villous hypoplasia

Distal villous hypoplasia is a form of placental villous maldevelopment that has the potential to cause significant intrauterine growth restriction with adverse consequences for fetal viability, neurodevelopmental outcome and adult cardiovascular health. It is characterized by a sparse, poorly developed distal villous tree with abnormally shaped, elongated, slender villi and widening of the intervillous space. Generally, villi show widespread trophoblast abnormalities with thinning of the villous trophoblast layer, reduction in cytotrophoblast numbers, evidence of a widespread increase in syncytiotrophoblast nuclear senescence and wave-like syncytial knots. Investigation of pregnancies with false positive serum screening tests for fetal aneuploidy/structural defects can help identify pregnancies at risk of placental insufficiency, particularly when combined with ultrasound assessment of placental morphology at 19–22 weeks. Identification of pregnancies with multiple abnormal tests of placental function permits high-risk specialist referral to optimize maternal-fetal outcome.