Objective: Placental abruption complicates approximately 1% of all pregnancies and remains a significant cause of both maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. Several risk factors are associated with this complications, but a clear causal relation is diffucult to establish. The aim of the study: The aim of the study was to determine and identify risk factors for placental abruption. Design: Retrospective cohort study. Setting: Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Medical Faculty of Palacký University, Olomouc. Subject and Method: Retrospectively gathered cohort of 180 women was compared to 198 healthy women. We have focused on anthropometric, sociodemographic, behavioral, obstetric and fetal parameters. Statistical evaluation was done by Statsoft, Inc. (2001) Statistika CZ (Software system data analysis), version 6. Results: The incidence of the placental abruption was 0.89%. We have confirmed the following risk factors as statistically significant (p values are given): Low-degree education (0.00002), prepregnancy weight of the mother (0.00), weight gain in pregnancy (0.00), higher parity (0.0272), smoking (0.03847), preeclampsia (0.00889), chorioamnionitis (0.00), premature rupture of membranes (0.00), recurrent spontaneous abortions (0.00), positive family history of deep venous thrombosis (0.0007) and intrauterine growth retardation (0.0386). Conclusion: Placental abruption has a large number of potential risk factors. The true biological cause and its etiopathogenic role is still to be elucidated.

        Key words: placental abruption, risk factors, etiology