scholarly journals High Antibodies to VAR2CSA in Response to Malaria Infection Are Associated With Improved Birthweight in a Longitudinal Study of Pregnant Women

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alistair R. D. McLean ◽  
D. Herbert Opi ◽  
Danielle I. Stanisic ◽  
Julia C. Cutts ◽  
Gaoqian Feng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Adverse Birth Outcomes ◽  
Limited Data ◽  
Placental Infection ◽  
Variant Surface Antigen ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Erythrocyte Surface ◽  
Gestational Age At Delivery ◽  
Adverse Pregnancy ◽  
Antibody Levels

IntroductionPregnant women have an increased risk of P. falciparum infection, which is associated with low birth weight and preterm delivery. VAR2CSA, a variant surface antigen expressed on the parasitized erythrocyte surface, enables sequestration in the placenta. Few studies have prospectively examined relationships between antibody responses during pregnancy and subsequent adverse birth outcomes, and there are limited data outside Africa.MethodsLevels of IgG against VAR2CSA domains (DBL3; DBL5) and a VAR2CSA-expressing placental-binding P. falciparum isolate (PfCS2-IE) were measured in 301 women enrolled at their first visit to antenatal care which occurred mid-pregnancy (median = 26 weeks, lower and upper quartiles = 22, 28). Associations between antibody levels at enrolment and placental infection, birthweight and estimated gestational age at delivery were assessed by linear and logistic regression with adjustment for confounders. For all outcomes, effect modification by gravidity and peripheral blood P. falciparum infection at enrolment was assessed.ResultsAmong women who had acquired P. falciparum infection at enrolment, those with higher levels of VAR2CSA antibodies (75th percentile) had infants with higher mean birthweight (estimates varied from +35g to +149g depending on antibody response) and reduced adjusted odds of placental infection (aOR estimates varied from 0.17 to 0.80), relative to women with lower levels (25th percentile) of VAR2CSA antibodies. However, among women who had not acquired an infection at enrolment, higher VAR2CSA antibodies were associated with increased odds of placental infection (aOR estimates varied from 1.10 to 2.24).ConclusionsWhen infected by mid-pregnancy, a better immune response to VAR2CSA-expressing parasites may contribute to protecting against adverse pregnancy outcomes.

scholarly journals Hemoglobin concentrations and adverse birth outcomes in South Asian pregnant women: findings from a prospective Maternal and Neonatal Health Registry

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (S2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sumera Aziz Ali ◽  
Shiyam Sunder Tikmani ◽  
Sarah Saleem ◽  
Archana B. Patel ◽  
Patricia L. Hibberd ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Birth Outcomes ◽  
South Asian ◽  
Pregnancy Outcomes ◽  
Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes ◽  
Adverse Birth Outcomes ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Adverse Pregnancy ◽  
Health Registry ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract Background While the relationship between hemoglobin (Hb) concentrations and pregnancy outcomes has been studied often, most reports have focused on a specific Hb cutoff used to define anemia. Fewer studies have evaluated pregnancy outcomes across the entire range of Hb values. Moreover, to date, most studies of the relationship of Hb concentrations to pregnancy outcomes have been done in high-income countries. Thus, we have sought to determine the relationship between the range of maternal Hb concentrations and adverse birth outcomes among South Asian pregnant women. Methods For this study, we used data collected from two South Asian countries (Pakistan – Sindh Province and two sites in India - Belagavi and Nagpur) in a prospective maternal and newborn health registry study. To assess the association between Hb concentrations and various maternal and fetal outcomes, we classified the Hb concentrations into seven categories. Regression analyses adjusting for multiple potential confounders were performed to assess adverse pregnancy outcomes across the range of Hb concentrations. Findings Between January 2012 and December 2018, 130,888 pregnant women were enrolled in the South Asian sites had a Hb measurement available, delivered and were included in the analyses. Overall, the mean Hb concentration of pregnant women from the sites was 9.9 g/dL, 10.0 g/dL in the Indian sites and 9.5 g/dL in the Pakistan site. Hb concentrations < 7 g/dL were observed in 6.9% of the pregnant Pakistani women and 0.2% of the Indian women. In both the Pakistani and Indian sites, women with higher parity and women with no formal education had lower Hb concentrations. In the Pakistani site, women > 35 years of age, women with ≥4 children and those who enrolled in the third trimester were more likely to have Hb concentrations of < 7 g/dL but these associations were not found for the Indian sites. When adjusting for potential confounders, for both India and Pakistan, lower Hb concentrations were associated with stillbirth, preterm birth, lower mean birthweight, and increased risk of low birthweight. In the Pakistani site, there was evidence of a U-shaped relationship between Hb concentrations and low birth weight, and neonatal mortality, and in India with hypertensive disease. Interpretation This study documented the relationship between maternal Hb concentrations and adverse pregnancy outcomes in women from the Pakistani and Indian sites across the range of Hb values. Both low and high Hb concentrations were associated with risk of at least some adverse outcomes. Hence, both low and high values of Hb should be considered risk factors for the mother and fetus.

scholarly journals Safety of Antimicrobials During Pregnancy: A Systematic Review of Antimicrobials Considered for Treatment and Postexposure Prophylaxis of Plague

2020 ◽  
Vol 70 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S37-S50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia A Yu ◽  
Emmy L Tran ◽  
Corinne M Parker ◽  
Hye-Joo Kim ◽  
Eileen L Yee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spontaneous Abortion ◽  
Case Reports ◽  
Case Series ◽  
First Trimester ◽  
Neonatal Outcomes ◽  
Primary Sources ◽  
Limited Data ◽  
Postexposure Prophylaxis ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Adverse Pregnancy

Abstract Background The safety profile of antimicrobials used during pregnancy is one important consideration in the decision on how to treat and provide postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) for plague during pregnancy. Methods We searched 5 scientific literature databases for primary sources on the safety of 9 antimicrobials considered for plague during pregnancy (amikacin, gentamicin, plazomicin, streptomycin, tobramycin, chloramphenicol, doxycycline, sulfadiazine, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole [TMP-SMX]) and abstracted data on maternal, pregnancy, and fetal/neonatal outcomes. Results Of 13 052 articles identified, 66 studies (case-control, case series, cohort, and randomized studies) and 96 case reports were included, totaling 27 751 prenatal exposures to amikacin (n = 9), gentamicin (n = 345), plazomicin (n = 0), streptomycin (n = 285), tobramycin (n = 43), chloramphenicol (n = 246), doxycycline (n = 2351), sulfadiazine (n = 870), and TMP-SMX (n = 23 602). Hearing or vestibular deficits were reported in 18/121 (15%) children and 17/109 (16%) pregnant women following prenatal streptomycin exposure. First trimester chloramphenicol exposure was associated with an elevated risk of an undescended testis (odds ratio [OR] 5.9, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.2–28.7). Doxycycline was associated with cardiovascular malformations (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.2–4.7) in 1 study and spontaneous abortion (OR 2.8, 95% CI 1.9–4.1) in a separate study. First trimester exposure to TMP-SMX was associated with increased risk of neural tube defects (pooled OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.4–4.3), spontaneous abortion (OR 3.5, 95% CI 2.3–5.6), preterm birth (OR 1.5, 95% CI 1.1–2.1), and small for gestational age (OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.2–2.2). No other statistically significant associations were reported. Conclusions For most antimicrobials reviewed, adverse maternal/fetal/neonatal outcomes were not observed consistently. Prenatal exposure to streptomycin and TMP-SMX was associated with select birth defects in some studies. Based on limited data, chloramphenicol and doxycycline may be associated with adverse pregnancy or neonatal outcomes; however, more data are needed to confirm these associations. Antimicrobials should be used for treatment and PEP of plague during pregnancy; the choice of antimicrobials may be influenced by these data as well as information about the risks of plague during pregnancy.

scholarly journals Alterations in Vaginal Microbiota among Pregnant Women with COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ebru Celik ◽  
Gulin Ozcan ◽  
Cansel Vatansever ◽  
Erxiati Paerhati ◽  
Mert Ahmet Kuskucu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Pregnancy Outcomes ◽  
Diversity Index ◽  
Alpha Diversity ◽  
Active Phase ◽  
Adverse Outcomes ◽  
Vaginal Microbiota ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Adverse Pregnancy

Abstract Background: The maintenance of vaginal microbiota is an important factor to achieve ideal pregnancy outcomes. Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has been shown to have potential adverse effects on pregnancy and neonatal outcomes. Pregnancy itself is a risk factor for the severity of COVID-19, with an increased risk of intensive care unit (ICU) admission, maternal morbidity, and mortality. the role of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in vaginal microbiome composition in pregnant women with COVID-19 has not yet been investigated. Therefore, we anticipate that COVID-19 may unfavorably affect the composition of the vaginal microbiota, resulting in adverse pregnancy outcomes. We aimed to describe the alterations of the composition of vaginal microbiota in pregnant women with COVID-19.Results: A prospective case-control study was conducted among 19 pregnant women with COVID-19 and 28 healthy controls matched according to the gestational week and age. The vaginal swabs were collected during the active phase of infection and consecutively, within a month after recovering from infection. In three patients, longitudinal samples before, in the course, and after infection were also obtained. The microbiome alterations were examined by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. We indicated that COVID-19 was associated with vaginal dysbiosis during pregnancy, which was indicated by an increased alpha diversity index. There was a significantly decrease in Firmicutes (P=0.007) and Lactobacillus (P=0.019) with an increase in Bacteroidetes (P=0.024) in the COVID-19 group. In the moderate/severe group, increased amounts of Ureaplasma and vanishing of Lactobacillus gasseri were found in women, compared to the asymptomatic or mild group (P=0.001). In longitudinal analysis, elevation of Actinobacteria with reduction of Firmicutes and Bacteroides were indicated during the active phase. Conclusions: The study revealed vaginal dysbiosis with a low abundance of Lactobacillus and an increase in Bacteroidetes in relation to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Vaginal dysbiosis in COVID-19 could be a contributing factor in pregnancy adverse outcomes. Trial registration: clinicaltrials, Registered 15 November 2019, https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04165252?cond=microbiota&cntry=TR&draw=3&rank=12

Sleep and pregnancy

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michele L. Okun
Keyword(s):  
Sleep Disturbance ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Pregnancy Outcomes ◽  
Excessive Daytime Sleepiness ◽  
Daytime Sleepiness ◽  
Lifestyle Changes ◽  
Sleep Maintenance ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Exogenous Factors ◽  
Adverse Pregnancy

Pregnant women experience a greater degree of sleep disturbance than their non-pregnant counterparts. Complaints range from sleep maintenance issues to excessive daytime sleepiness. Emerging evidence suggests that there is variability in sleep patterns and complaints which manifest differently among pregnant women. Moreover, it is well accepted that sleep disturbance can dysregulate normal immune and endocrine processes that are critically important to the health and progression of gestation. A possible consequence of sleep disturbance is an increased risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes. Then again, many endogenous and exogenous factors, including pregnancy-related physiological, hormonal, and anatomic changes, as well as lifestyle changes, can impact the degree and chronicity of sleep disturbance. Alas, there is still much to learn in terms of what women can/should expect with regard to the timing, degree, frequency, and/or severity of a specific pregnancy-related sleep disturbance(s), despite the number of published studies evaluating what sleep during pregnancy encompasses.

scholarly journals Maternal urinary levels of trichloroacetic acid and association with adverse pregnancy outcomes

2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (6) ◽  
pp. 884-895 ◽  
Author(s):  
Funanani Mashau ◽  
Esper Jacobeth Ncube ◽  
Kuku Voyi
Keyword(s):  
Birth Weight ◽  
Low Birth Weight ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Pregnancy Outcomes ◽  
Premature Birth ◽  
Trichloroacetic Acid ◽  
Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes ◽  
Potential Health ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Adverse Pregnancy

Abstract The current study aimed to determine the association between trichloroacetic acid (TCAA) levels and adverse pregnancy outcomes among third-trimester pregnant women who were exposed to chlorinated drinking water. A total of 205 pregnant women who participated in the disinfection by-products exposure and adverse pregnancy outcome study in South Africa were randomly asked to participate in this study by providing their morning urine sample voids. Samples were analysed for urinary creatinine and TCAA. Furthermore, participants gave individual data using a structured questionnaire. The mean (median) concentration of creatinine-adjusted urinary TCAA was 2.34 (1.95) μg/g creatinine. Elevated levels of creatinine-adjusted TCAA concentrations showed an increased risk of premature birth, small for gestational age (SGA) and low birth weight. There was no significant statistical correlation observed between creatinine-adjusted TCAA concentrations and the total volume of cold water ingested among the study population. No statistically significant association was observed between creatinine-adjusted urinary TCAA and premature birth, SGA and low birth weight newborns among the study subjects. However, the urinary TCAA concentrations identified in this study suggest potential health risks towards women and foetus. Therefore, further studies are warranted to prevent further adverse pregnancy outcomes.

scholarly journals Gravidity-Dependent Production of Antibodies That Inhibit Binding of Plasmodium falciparum-Infected Erythrocytes to Placental Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycan during Pregnancy

2001 ◽  
Vol 69 (12) ◽  
pp. 7487-7492 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iona O'Neil-Dunne ◽  
Rajeshwara N. Achur ◽  
Sean T. Agbor-Enoh ◽  
Manojkumar Valiyaveettil ◽  
Ramachandra S. Naik ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plasmodium Falciparum ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Placental Malaria ◽  
Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycan ◽  
Placental Infection ◽  
Malaria During Pregnancy ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Antibody Levels ◽  
Kinetics Of

ABSTRACT During pregnancy, Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes sequester in the placenta by adhering to chondroitin 4-sulfate, creating a risk factor for both the mother and the fetus. The primigravidae are at higher risk for placental malaria than the multigravidae. This difference in susceptibility has been attributed to the lack of antibodies that block the adhesion of infected erythrocytes to placental chondroitin 4-sulfate in primigravid women. However, recent results show that many primigravidae at term have antibody levels similar to those of multigravidae, and thus the significance of antiadhesion antibodies in providing protection against malaria during pregnancy remains unclear. In this study, we analyzed plasma samples from women of various gravidities at different gestational stages for antiadhesion antibodies. The majority of women, regardless of gravidity, had similar levels of antibodies at term. Most primigravidae had low levels of or no antiadhesion antibodies prior to ∼20 weeks of pregnancy and then produced antibodies. Multigravidae also lacked antibodies until ∼12 weeks of pregnancy, but thereafter they efficiently produced antibodies. In pregnant women who had placental infection at term, higher levels of antiadhesion antibodies correlated with lower levels of placental parasitemia. The difference in kinetics of antibody production between primigravidae and multigravidae correlated with the prevalence of malaria in these groups, suggesting that antibodies are produced during pregnancy in response to placental infection. The early onset of efficient antibody response in multigravidae and the delayed production to antibodies in primigravidae appear to account for the gravidity-dependent differential susceptibilities of pregnant women to placental malaria.

scholarly journals Parity and Placental Infection Affect Antibody Responses againstPlasmodium falciparumduring Pregnancy

2011 ◽  
Vol 79 (4) ◽  
pp. 1654-1659 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alfredo Mayor ◽  
Eduard Rovira-Vallbona ◽  
Sonia Machevo ◽  
Quique Bassat ◽  
Ruth Aguilar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Responses ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Peripheral Blood ◽  
Surface Antigens ◽  
Antibody Responses ◽  
Bed Nets ◽  
Variant Surface Antigens ◽  
Placental Infection ◽  
Merozoite Antigens ◽  
Antibody Levels

ABSTRACTWomen are at higher risk ofPlasmodium falciparuminfection when pregnant. The decreasing risk of malaria with subsequent pregnancies is attributed to parity-dependent acquisition of antibodies against placental parasites expressing variant surface antigens, VAR2CSA, that mediate placental sequestration through adhesion to chondroitin sulfate A (CSA). However, modulation of immunity during pregnancy may also contribute to increase the risk of malaria. We compared antibody responses among 30 Mozambican primigravidae and 60 multigravidae at delivery, 40 men, and 40 children. IgG levels were measured against the surface antigens of erythrocytes infected withP. falciparumisolated from 12 pregnant women (4 placental and 8 peripheral blood isolates) and 26 nonpregnant hosts. We also measured IgG levels against merozoite recombinant antigens and total IgG. PlacentalP. falciparuminfection was associated with increased levels of total IgG as well as IgG levels against merozoite antigens and parasite isolates from pregnant and nonpregnant hosts. We therefore stratified comparisons of antibody levels by placental infection. Compared to multigravidae, uninfected primigravidae had lower total IgG as well as lower levels of IgGs against peripheral blood isolates from both pregnant and nonpregnant hosts. These differences were not explained by use of bed nets, season at delivery, neighborhood of residence, or age. Compared to men, infected primigravidae had higher levels of IgGs against isolates from pregnant women and CSA-binding lines but not against other isolates, supporting the concept of a pregnancy-specific development of immunity to these parasite variants. Results of this study show that parity and placental infection can modulate immune responses during pregnancy against malaria parasites.

scholarly journals Febrile Rhinovirus Illness During Pregnancy Is Associated With Low Birth Weight in Nepal

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Erin K Philpott ◽  
Janet A Englund ◽  
Joanne Katz ◽  
James Tielsch ◽  
Subarna Khatry ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Birth Weight ◽  
Infant Mortality ◽  
Low Birth Weight ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Birth Outcomes ◽  
Febrile Illness ◽  
Respiratory Illness ◽  
Adverse Birth Outcomes ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Febrile Respiratory Illness

Abstract Background Adverse birth outcomes, including low birth weight (LBW), defined as &lt;2500 grams, small-for-gestational-age (SGA), and prematurity, contribute to 60%–80% of infant mortality worldwide and may be related to infections during pregnancy. The aim of this study was to assess whether febrile human rhinovirus (HRV) illness is associated with adverse birth outcomes. Methods Active household-based weekly surveillance was performed for respiratory illness episodes in pregnant women as part of a community-based, prospective, randomized trial of maternal influenza immunization in rural Nepal. Rhinovirus (HRV) febrile illness episodes were defined as fever plus cough, sore throat, runny nose, and/or myalgia with HRV detected on mid-nasal swab. Multivariate regression analysis evaluated the association between febrile HRV respiratory illness and adverse birth outcomes. Results Overall, 96 (3%) of 3693 pregnant women had HRV-positive febrile respiratory illnesses. Infants born to pregnant women with HRV febrile illness had a 1.6-fold increased risk of being LBW compared with those with non-HRV febrile illness (28 of 96 [38%] vs 109 of 458 [24%]; relative risk [RR], 1.6; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1–2.3). No difference in risk of LBW was observed between infants born to mothers with non-HRV febrile respiratory illness and those without respiratory illness during pregnancy (109 of 458 [24%] vs 552 of 2220 [25%], respectively; RR, 1.0; 95% CI, 0.8–1.2). Conclusions Febrile illness due to rhinovirus during pregnancy was associated with increased risk of LBW in a rural South Asian population. Interventions to reduce the burden of febrile respiratory illness due to rhinovirus during pregnancy may have a significant impact on LBW and subsequent infant mortality.

First epidemiological data for venotonics in pregnancy from the EFEMERIS database

2015 ◽  
Vol 31 (5) ◽  
pp. 344-348 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isabelle Lacroix ◽  
Anna-Belle Beau ◽  
Caroline Hurault-Delarue ◽  
Claire Bouilhac ◽  
Dominique Petiot ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Adverse Pregnancy Outcome ◽  
Pregnancy Termination ◽  
Newborn Health ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Intrauterine Death ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Adverse Pregnancy ◽  
In Pregnancy

Objective There are few published data about possible effects of veinotonics in pregnant women. The present study investigates potential adverse drug reactions of veinotonics in pregnancy. Method EFEMERIS is a database including prescribed and dispensed reimbursed drugs during pregnancy (data from Caisse Primaire d’Assurance Maladie) and outcomes (data from Maternal and Infant Protection Service and Antenatal diagnostic Centre). Women who delivered from 1 July 2004 to December 2007 in Haute-Garonne and were registered in the French Health Insurance Service have been included in the EFEMERIS database. We compared pregnancy outcomes and newborn health between women exposed to veinotonics during pregnancy and unexposed women. Results We found that 8998 women (24%) had received at least one prescription for venotonic agents during their pregnancy, corresponding to the period of organogenesis in 1200 cases. We compared data for these women with those for the 27,963 women for whom these drugs were not prescribed during pregnancy. The most widely used veinotonics were hesperidin, diosmin and troxerutin. Pregnancies led to 98.4% versus 93.6% of live births, 0.2% versus 0.2% of postnatal deaths and 1.6% versus 6.4% of pregnancy termination (miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, medical termination, intrauterine death) in exposed and non-exposed groups, respectively. The risks of pregnancy termination (HR = 0.71 (0.60–0.84)) and prematurity (HR = 0.82 (0.73–0.93)) remained significantly lower in the women exposed to venotonics than in unexposed women. In the group of newborns whose mother had a prescription of veinotonics during organogenesis, 39 out of 1200 (3.4%) had a malformation versus 789 (3.0%) in the control group (ORa = 1.134 (0.873–1.472)). The risk of neonatal diseases was not increased by exposure to venotonic agents in the third trimester (4.9% versus 6.1% for the controls, ORa = 1.07 (0.95–1.20)). Conclusion We found no increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcome among women exposed to veinotonics compared with unexposed pregnant women.

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