The association of cigarette smoking with placenta previa and abruptio placentae

Smoking was recognized as having an adverse effect of pregnancy outcome as early as the mid 1950s. Smoking is a well recognized risk factor for low birthweight infants and has been implicated in preterm birth. The increased risk of both placenta previa and abruptio placentae among women who continue to smoke during pregnancy, is in general, less well recognized, but supported by numerous studies. The purpose of this article is to review the published literature dealing with the risk of placenta previa and abruptio placentae in women who smoke during their pregnancy.