Circumvallate Placenta Syndrome

Deacon et al. (1974) reported 3 sisters who died neonatally of respiratory insufficiency. All 3 pregnancies were complicated by polyhydramnios, and each infant showed cutaneous and intracranial hemorrhage, marked central nervous system depression and skeletal abnormalities (over-tubulation of ribs and long bones of the limbs). Since the third infant had a circumvallate placenta, the authors suggested that this might be a primary and gene-determined defect. Familial occurrence of circumvallate placenta was reported by Hunt (1953) and by Morgan (1955).