How does subchorionic hematoma in the first trimester affect pregnancy outcomes?

Abstract

Introduction: Subchorionic hematoma (SCH) in pregnancy has been associated with increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes. We aimed to investigate the association of SCH with adverse pregnancy outcomes in pregnant women in relation to size of hematoma and control subjects. Material and methods: This study included 178 pregnant women with sonographically detected SCH in the 1st trimester, and 350 pregnant controls without SCH. Data on maternal age, smoking status, gestational week at diagnosis, location of SCH, medications before diagnosis, gestational week at delivery, delivery route and pregnancy outcomes (first trimester vaginal bleeding, pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes, intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), placental abruption, preterm delivery < 37 weeks, early pregnancy loss and intrauterine death) were retrieved retrospectively from hospital records. Pregnant women with SCH were divided into 3 groups according to the size of hematoma including small SCH (SCH-I group, n = 47), medium-size SCH (SCH-II group, n = 110) and large SCH (SCH-III group, n = 21) groups. Results: Subchorionic hematoma was associated with significantly lower gestational age at delivery (p < 0.001) and higher rate of first trimester bleeding (p < 0.001) compared with the control group, regardless of the size of the hematoma. Placental abruption (p = 0.002) and early pregnancy loss (p < 0.001) were significantly more common in SCH-II and -III groups than in the control group. SCH-III group was associated with a significantly higher rate of < 37 gestational weeks at delivery (p < 0.001), first trimester vaginal bleeding (p < 0.001), early pregnancy loss (p < 0.001), IUGR (p = 0.003) and preterm delivery (p < 0.001) compared to both lesser size hematoma and control groups. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that large SCH might indicate an increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes such as 1st trimester vaginal bleeding, early pregnancy loss, IUGR, placental abruption or preterm delivery. These findings are important to guide the patients with SCH for detailed clinical evaluation.