ABSTRACT
To determine the effect of maternal anemia on placental ratio. Cohort study. Unit-1, Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics 1, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Lahore from August 2002 to August 2003. One hundred pregnant women, 50 anemic and 50 having normal range of Hb were included in the study. After delivery, weight of the new born and weight of placenta was recorded. The fetoplacental ratio was calculated for both groups and compared. The mean weight of the newborn [+/-SD] in anemic group was 3.12 +/- 0.45 kg and 3.18 +/- 0.35 Kg in control group. The difference was statistically non-significant [P=0.445]. The mean placental weight of anemic groups was 0.58 /- 0.13 Kg and that of control group was 0.52 +/- 0.088 Kg showing a significant increase [P<0.009]. Feto-placental ratio was 0.193 +/- 0.035 [Mean +/- SD] in anemic patients and 0.166 +/- 0.024 in control group. FP ratio of anemic patients was significantly higher than control group [P<0.001]. This study confirms that anemia during pregnancy is associated with significantly large placental weight and a high fetoplacental ratio