scholarly journals Pregnancy and Susceptibility to Infectious Diseases

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisabeth Sappenfield ◽  
Denise J. Jamieson ◽  
Athena P. Kourtis
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Disease Severity ◽  
Infection Prevention ◽  
Hepatitis E ◽  
Infection Risk ◽  
Maternal Outcomes ◽  
Pubmed Search ◽  
Infection Risk Factors ◽  
Simplex Virus

To summarize the literature regarding susceptibility of pregnant women to infectious diseases and severity of resulting disease, we conducted a review using a PubMed search and other strategies. Studies were included if they reported information on infection risk or disease outcome in pregnant women. In all, 1454 abstracts were reviewed, and a total of 85 studies were included. Data were extracted regarding number of cases in pregnant women, rates of infection, risk factors for disease severity or complications, and maternal outcomes. The evidence indicates that pregnancy is associated with increased severity of some infectious diseases, such as influenza, malaria, hepatitis E, and herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection (risk for dissemination/hepatitis); there is also some evidence for increased severity of measles and smallpox. Disease severity seems higher with advanced pregnancy. Pregnant women may be more susceptible to acquisition of malaria, HIV infection, and listeriosis, although the evidence is limited. These results reinforce the importance of infection prevention as well as of early identification and treatment of suspected influenza, malaria, hepatitis E, and HSV disease during pregnancy.

scholarly journals Feto-Maternal Outcomes of Hepatitis E Virus Infection in Pregnancy of Bangladeshi women.

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 3-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rabeya Sultana ◽  
Sharmin Rozhana ◽  
Shahina Tabassum ◽  
Saif Ullah Munshi
Keyword(s):  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Viral Hepatitis ◽  
Hepatitis E Virus ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Hepatitis E ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Maternal Outcomes ◽  
Intrauterine Death ◽  
Maternal Complications

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is responsible for more than half of acute viral hepatitis (AHV) with high feto-maternal complications. Bangladesh has high prevalence of HEV infection among pregnant women. This study was undertaken to observe fetal -maternal outcome of HEV infection in Bangladeshi pregnant women . For this purpose a total of 56 pregnant women with AVH were enrolled from two tertiary care hospitals of Dhaka, Bangladesh. Blood samples were collected and tested for HEV Ig-M, HBsAg and Anti HCV. Thirty one pregnant women were tested positive for HEV Ig-M, acted as case and rest 25 women had viral hepatitis other than HEV, acted as control group (non-HEV). Among the HEV infected pregnant women, 38.7% of the patients (12/31) were aged between 21-25 years with mean age of 23.7 + SD 4.5 years. Twelve (39%) AVH-E patient died due to fulminant hepatic failure (FHF), hepatic encephalopathy (HFE) and multiorgan dysfunction. Maternal mortality due to HEV was greater [ (RR), 9.6; 95% CI, 1.3 to 69.5] in HEV infected women than in non- HEV infected women and it was higher in 2nd trimester (55.5%) then the 1st and 3rd trimester of pregnancy. Babies born to pregnant women with acute Hepatitis due to HEV (AHV-E) were more likely to have intrauterine death (RR 18.68; p = 0.03) and preterm delivery (RR 7.25; p = 0.05) than the non-HEV infected pregnant women. Only 23% (7/31) babies reached up to term maturity. In conclusion, his study reveals that comparing with non-HEV infection, pregnant women with AHV-E infection causes worse feto-maternal outcomes especially in the second trimester of pregnancy which needs special attention of healthcare providers to reduce bad obstetric outcome in HEV endemic countries.Bangladesh J Med Microbiol 2015; 9 (2): 3-6

Impact of influenza virus during pregnancy: from disease severity to vaccine efficacy

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (7) ◽  
pp. 441-453
Author(s):  
Ana Vazquez-Pagan ◽  
Rebekah Honce ◽  
Stacey Schultz-Cherry
Keyword(s):  
Influenza Virus ◽  
Virus Infection ◽  
Immune Responses ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Disease Severity ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Antiviral Treatment ◽  
Influenza Virus Infection ◽  
Severe Influenza ◽  
The Impact

Pregnant women are among the individuals at the highest risk for severe influenza virus infection. Infection of the mother during pregnancy increases the probability of adverse fetal outcomes such as small for gestational age, preterm birth and fetal death. Animal models of syngeneic and allogeneic mating can recapitulate the increased disease severity observed in pregnant women and are used to define the mechanism(s) of that increased severity. This review focuses on influenza A virus pathogenesis, the unique immunological landscape during pregnancy, the impact of maternal influenza virus infection on the fetus and the immune responses at the maternal–fetal interface. Finally, we summarize the importance of immunization and antiviral treatment in this population and highlight issues that warrant further investigation.

scholarly journals Advances in Hepatitis E Virus Biology and Pathogenesis

Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 267
Author(s):  
Shaoli Lin ◽  
Yan-Jin Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Hepatitis E Virus ◽  
Case Fatality ◽  
Hepatitis E ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Rapid Progression ◽  
Genotype 1 ◽  
Genotype 3 ◽  
Zoonotic Infections

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is one of the causative agents for liver inflammation across the world. HEV is a positive-sense single-stranded RNA virus. Human HEV strains mainly belong to four major genotypes in the genus Orthohepevirus A, family Hepeviridae. Among the four genotypes, genotype 1 and 2 are obligate human pathogens, and genotype 3 and 4 cause zoonotic infections. HEV infection with genotype 1 and 2 mainly presents as acute and self-limiting hepatitis in young adults. However, HEV infection of pregnant women with genotype 1 strains can be exacerbated to fulminant hepatitis, resulting in a high rate of case fatality. As pregnant women maintain the balance of maternal-fetal tolerance and effective immunity against invading pathogens, HEV infection with genotype 1 might dysregulate the balance and cause the adverse outcome. Furthermore, HEV infection with genotype 3 can be chronic in immunocompromised patients, with rapid progression, which has been a challenge since it was reported years ago. The virus has a complex interaction with the host cells in downregulating antiviral factors and recruiting elements to generate a conducive environment of replication. The virus-cell interactions at an early stage might determine the consequence of the infection. In this review, advances in HEV virology, viral life cycle, viral interference with the immune response, and the pathogenesis in pregnant women are discussed, and perspectives on these aspects are presented.

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