CD34 immunostain increases the sensitivity of placental examination for distal fetal vascular malperfusion in liveborn infants.

Lesions of global FVM are common, featuring relatively low sensitivity for perinatal complications. Caution is indicated in assigning significance to isolated lesions such as fetal vascular ectasia, intramural fibrin deposition and stem vessel obliteration. Established and on-going FVM diagnosed by using CD34 immunostain, is much more significant and portends the most complicated perinatal outcomes.