Iranian Journal of Pathology

Rediscovering Langhans' Fibrinoid Layer: A Forgotten Barrier at the Maternal–Fetal Interface

Document Type : Letters to the Editor

Authors

Rohini Motwani 1
Seetu Palo 2
Mishu Mangla 3

1 Department of Anatomy, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bibinagar, Telangana, India

2 Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bibinagar, Telangana, India

3 Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bibinagar, Hyderabad, India

https://doi.org/10.30699/ijp.2025.2058811.3446
Abstract
In placental histopathology, the Langhans' fibrinoid layer holds a unique but often overlooked position. Although it was described over a hundred years ago and featured in classic medical texts, it has gradually faded from modern research. Langhans' fibrinoid is one of the most underappreciated and inconsistently described parts of placental structure. In this article, we revisit its historical roots, anatomical ambiguity, and potential clinical significance, aiming to give it a clear and updated definition in current placental studies and diagnostics.

Keywords

Placenta
Langhans' fibrinoid
Nitabuch's layer
Chronic intervillositis

Subjects

Copyright © 2026. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. The license also allows users to adapt, remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, including commercial use.

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Iranian Journal of Pathology
Volume 21, Issue 1
Winter 2026
Pages 146-149

  • Receive Date 24 April 2025
  • Revise Date 05 June 2025
  • Accept Date 03 September 2025

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