OBJECTIVES: to describe possible placental anatomopathological alterations associated to fetal hypoxia as evaluated by the Apgar score. METHODS: one hundred sixty seven placentas of children delivered at the Hospital Escola da Universidade Federal do Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba city were analyzed both macro and microscopically; their clinical records were reviewed as well. Apgar Scores below 7 were considered consistent with fetal hypoxia. RESULTS: placental alterations compatible with inflammatory infiltrate and arterial hypertension were found. The latter was more often diagnosed in fetuses with 5 minutes Apgar scores below 7 (p=0.017). CONCLUSIONS: there may be a relationship between placental alterations and fetal hypoxia as diagnosed by the Apgar score. Therefore, the exam of the placenta by the pathologist could be a mean to elucidate a plausible cause of clinically undetected perinatal hypoxia.
Apgar score; Fetus; Anoxia; Morphology; Placenta
