What is abruptio placenta and what are its risk factors?

What is abruptio placenta and what are its risk factors?

Abruptio placenta refers to premature separation of the placenta, i.e., before delivery of the fetus. It occurs in about 1/100 to 1/150 deliveries and carries a perinatal mortality rate of approximately 20%. The incidence of abruption increases with age and is more common in African-American women. Abruption is associated with hypertension, either chronic or pregnancy-induced, multiparity, cigarette smok-ing, and cocaine abuse. In women who have experienced a prior abruption, the risk of recurrence is 10 times higher than that of the general population.