Overview
Placental insufficiency, also called placental dysfunction or uteroplacental insufficiency, is a pregnancy complication where the placenta cannot deliver enough oxygen and nutrients to the growing baby. The placenta is the organ that connects the baby to the mother's blood supply during pregnancy. When it does not work properly, the baby may not grow as expected, a condition known as intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). This can lead to low birth weight, premature delivery, and in severe cases, stillbirth. The condition can develop at any point during pregnancy but is most commonly detected in the second or third trimester. Mothers may notice reduced fetal movement, and doctors may find that the baby is measuring smaller than expected for the gestational age. Risk factors include high blood pressure (preeclampsia), diabetes, smoking, blood clotting disorders, advanced maternal age, and certain infections. There is no cure for placental insufficiency once it develops. Treatment focuses on close monitoring of the baby's health through ultrasounds, Doppler blood flow studies, and non-stress tests. In some cases, early delivery may be necessary to protect both the mother and baby. Bed rest, improved nutrition, and management of underlying conditions like high blood pressure may help. The prognosis depends heavily on how early the condition is detected and how severe it is. Babies born after experiencing placental insufficiency may need special care in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
Also known as:
Key symptoms:
Baby measuring smaller than expected during pregnancyReduced fetal movement felt by the motherLow amniotic fluid levels (oligohydramnios)Abnormal blood flow patterns seen on Doppler ultrasoundHigh blood pressure in the motherLow birth weight babyPremature birthAbnormal fetal heart rate patternsMother may have swelling or protein in urine if preeclampsia is presentBaby may appear thin or malnourished at birthMeconium-stained amniotic fluidDifficulty breathing in the newborn
Clinical phenotype terms (20)— hover any for plain English
Multifactorial
Caused by a mix of several genes and environmental factors
Neonatal
Begins at or shortly after birth (first 4 weeks)
FDA & Trial Timeline
10 eventsFundació Institut de Recerca de l'Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau — PHASE2
NICHD Global Network for Women's and Children's Health — PHASE3
Oregon Health and Science University
University of Oxford
Central Hospital, Nancy, France — PHASE3
Institute of Mother and Child, Warsaw, Poland
Data sourced from FDA regulatory filings and ClinicalTrials.gov. Updated periodically.
Treatments
No FDA-approved treatments are currently listed for Placental insufficiency.
17 clinical trialsare actively recruiting — trials can provide access to cutting-edge therapies.
View clinical trials →Treatment Centers
8 centersBaylor College of Medicine Rare Disease Center ↗
Baylor College of Medicine
📍 Houston, TX
🏥 NORDStanford Medicine Rare Disease Center ↗
Stanford Medicine
📍 Stanford, CA
🔬 UDNNIH Clinical Center Undiagnosed Diseases Program ↗
National Institutes of Health
📍 Bethesda, MD
🔬 UDNUCLA UDN Clinical Site ↗
UCLA Health
📍 Los Angeles, CA
🔬 UDNBaylor College of Medicine UDN Clinical Site ↗
Baylor College of Medicine
📍 Houston, TX
🔬 UDNHarvard/MGH UDN Clinical Site ↗
Massachusetts General Hospital
📍 Boston, MA
🏥 NORDMayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine ↗
Mayo Clinic
📍 Rochester, MN
👤 Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine
🏥 NORDUCLA Rare Disease Day Program ↗
UCLA Health
📍 Los Angeles, CA
Travel Grants
No travel grants are currently matched to Placental insufficiency.
Community
No community posts yet. Be the first to share your experience with Placental insufficiency.
Start the conversation →Latest news about Placental insufficiency
Disease timeline:
New recruiting trial: Speckle Tracking Echocardiography as a Tool for Early Diagnosis of Impaired Fetal Growth Twin Pregnancies
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Placental insufficiency
New recruiting trial: Placental Risk Assessment to CusTomize Individualized Pregnancy Care and Evaluation
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Placental insufficiency
New recruiting trial: Statin Intervention for Severe Early-Onset Placental Insufficiency. (STATIN-PRE Trial)
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Placental insufficiency
Caregiver Resources
NORD Caregiver Resources
Support, advocacy, and financial assistance for caregivers of rare disease patients.
Mental Health Support
Rare disease caregiving can be isolating. Connect with counseling and peer support.
Family & Caregiver Grants
Financial assistance programs specifically for caregivers of rare disease patients.
Social Security Disability
Learn how rare disease patients may qualify for SSDI/SSI benefits.
Questions for your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment
- Q1.How severe is the placental insufficiency, and how is my baby doing right now?,How often will I need monitoring, and what tests will be done?,At what point would you recommend delivering the baby early?,Are there any underlying conditions causing this, and should I be tested for blood clotting disorders?,What can I do to give my baby the best chance — are there any lifestyle changes that might help?,What are the risks if this happens again in a future pregnancy, and can anything prevent it?,Should I be referred to a maternal-fetal medicine specialist for more specialized care?
Common questions about Placental insufficiency
What is Placental insufficiency?
Placental insufficiency, also called placental dysfunction or uteroplacental insufficiency, is a pregnancy complication where the placenta cannot deliver enough oxygen and nutrients to the growing baby. The placenta is the organ that connects the baby to the mother's blood supply during pregnancy. When it does not work properly, the baby may not grow as expected, a condition known as intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). This can lead to low birth weight, premature delivery, and in severe cases, stillbirth. The condition can develop at any point during pregnancy but is most commonly detecte
How is Placental insufficiency inherited?
Placental insufficiency follows a multifactorial inheritance pattern. Genetic counseling can help families understand recurrence risk and testing options.
At what age does Placental insufficiency typically begin?
Typical onset of Placental insufficiency is neonatal. Age of onset can vary across affected individuals.
Are there clinical trials for Placental insufficiency?
Yes — 17 recruiting clinical trials are currently listed for Placental insufficiency on UniteRare. See the clinical trials section on this page for phase, sponsor, and site details sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov.
Which specialists treat Placental insufficiency?
20 specialists and care centers treating Placental insufficiency are listed on UniteRare, sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov principal investigators, published research, and the NPPES NPI registry.