Placental Pathology and Its Implications for Maternal and Fetal Disease

This chapter provides a detailed and updated review of placental pathology, examining how morphological, immunohistochemical, and molecular assessment of the placenta provides critical insight into the pathogenesis of adverse pregnancy outcomes, including preeclampsia, fetal growth restriction, preterm birth, and intrauterine fetal demise. It reviews the Amsterdam consensus criteria for standardized placental assessment and the evolving pathological classification of placental lesions, with attention to the clinical significance of lesions reflecting maternal vascular malperfusion, fetal vascular malperfusion, and inflammatory conditions. The chapter also explores the emerging field of placental transcriptomics and its potential to identify biomarkers linking placental dysfunction with long-term maternal and offspring health trajectories.