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- Title
Plasmodium falciparum Infection Early in Pregnancy has Profound Consequences for Fetal Growth.
- Authors
Schmiegelow, Christentze; Matondo, Sungwa; Minja, Daniel T. R.; Resende, Mafalda; Pehrson, Caroline; Nielsen, Birgitte Bruun; Olomi, Raimos; Nielsen, Morten A.; Deloron, Philippe; Salanti, Ali; Lusingu, John; Theander, Thor G.
- Abstract
Malaria during pregnancy constitutes a large health problem in areas of endemicity. The World Health Organization recommends that interventions are initiated at the first antenatal visit, and these improve pregnancy outcomes. This study evaluated fetal growth by ultrasonography and birth outcomes in women who were infected prior to the first antenatal visit (gestational age, <120 days) and not later in pregnancy. Compared with uninfected controls, women with early Plasmodium falciparum exposure had retarded intrauterine growth between gestational ages of 212 and 253 days (difference between means, 107 g [95% confidence interval {CI}, 26-188]; P = .0099) and a shorter pregnancy duration (difference between means, 6.6 days [95% CI, 1.0-112.5]; P = .0087). The birth weight (difference between means, 221 g [95% CI, 6-436]; P = .044) and the placental weight (difference between means, 84 g [95% CI, 18-150]; P = .013) at term were also reduced. The study suggests that early exposure to P. falciparum, which is not targeted for prevention by current control strategies, has a profound impact on fetal growth, pregnancy duration, and placental weight at term.
- Subjects
MALARIA; PLASMODIUM falciparum; PREGNANCY complications; GESTATIONAL age; FETAL growth retardation; COMMUNICABLE diseases; COMPARATIVE studies; LONGITUDINAL method; RESEARCH methodology; EVALUATION of medical care; MEDICAL cooperation; PLACENTA; PREGNANCY; RESEARCH; ULTRASONIC imaging; EVALUATION research; FETAL development; DISEASE complications
- Publication
Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2017, Vol 216, Issue 12, p1601
- ISSN
0022-1899
- Publication type
journal article
- DOI
10.1093/infdis/jix530