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Unger HW, Acharya S, Arnold L, Wu C, van Eijk AM, Gore-Langton GR, Ter Kuile FO, Lufele E, Chico RM, Price RN, Moore BR, Thriemer K, Rogerson SJ. The effect and control of malaria in pregnancy and lactating women in the Asia-Pacific region. Lancet Glob Health 2023; 11:e1805-e1818. [PMID: 37858590 DOI: 10.1016/s2214-109x(23)00415-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2023] [Revised: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
Half of all pregnancies at risk of malaria worldwide occur in the Asia-Pacific region, where Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax co-exist. Despite substantial reductions in transmission, malaria remains an important cause of adverse health outcomes for mothers and offspring, including pre-eclampsia. Malaria transmission is heterogeneous, and infections are commonly subpatent and asymptomatic. High-grade antimalarial resistance poses a formidable challenge to malaria control in pregnancy in the region. Intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy reduces infection risk in meso-endemic New Guinea, whereas screen-and-treat strategies will require more sensitive point-of-care tests to control malaria in pregnancy. In the first trimester, artemether-lumefantrine is approved, and safety data are accumulating for other artemisinin-based combinations. Safety of novel antimalarials to treat artemisinin-resistant P falciparum during pregnancy, and of 8-aminoquinolines during lactation, needs to be established. A more systematic approach to the prevention of malaria in pregnancy in the Asia-Pacific is required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Holger W Unger
- Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT, Australia; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Royal Darwin Hospital, Tiwi, NT, Australia; Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK.
| | - Sanjaya Acharya
- Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT, Australia
| | - Lachlan Arnold
- Royal Melbourne Hospital Clinical School, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Connie Wu
- Royal Melbourne Hospital Clinical School, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Anna Maria van Eijk
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | - Georgia R Gore-Langton
- Department of Disease Control, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Feiko O Ter Kuile
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | - Elvin Lufele
- Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT, Australia; Vector-Borne Diseases Unit, Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research, Madang, Papua New Guinea
| | - R Matthew Chico
- Department of Disease Control, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Ric N Price
- Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT, Australia; Centre for Tropical Medicine, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Brioni R Moore
- Curtin Medical School, Curtin University, Bentley, WA, Australia; Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University, Bentley, WA, Australia; Telethon Kids Institute, Perth Children's Hospital, Nedlands, WA, Australia
| | - Kamala Thriemer
- Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT, Australia
| | - Stephen J Rogerson
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Melbourne, The Doherty Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, The Doherty Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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Mondeilh A, Yovo E, Accrombessi M, Hounkonnou C, Agbota G, Atade W, Ladikpo OT, Mehoba M, Degbe A, Vianou B, Sossou D, Ndam NT, Massougbodji A, McGready R, Fievet N, Rijken MJ, Cottrell G, Briand V. Malaria Infections and Placental Blood Flow: A Doppler Ultrasound Study From a Preconception Cohort in Benin. Open Forum Infect Dis 2023; 10:ofad376. [PMID: 37577115 PMCID: PMC10414806 DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofad376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Malaria in pregnancy (MiP) has been associated with fetal growth restriction, the underlying pathogenic mechanisms of which remain poorly understood. Malaria in pregnancy is suspected to induce abnormalities in placental vascularization, leading to impaired placental development. Our study evaluated MIP's effect on uterine artery (UtA) and umbilical artery (UA) blood flow. Methods The analysis included 253 Beninese women followed throughout pregnancy and screened monthly for submicroscopic and microscopic malaria. Uterine artery Doppler measurement was performed once between 21 and 25 weeks' gestation (wg), and UA Doppler measurement was performed 1-3 times from 28 wg. Linear and logistic regression models were used to assess the effect of malaria infections on UtA Doppler indicators (pulsatility index and presence of a notch), whereas a logistic mixed model was used to assess the association between malaria infections and abnormal UA Doppler (defined as Z-score ≥2 standard deviation or absent/reversed UA end-diastolic flow). Results Primigravidae represented 7.5% of the study population; 42.3% of women had at least 1 microscopic infection during pregnancy, and 29.6% had at least 1 submicroscopic infection (and no microscopic infection). Both microscopic and submicroscopic infections before Doppler measurement were associated with the presence of a notch (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 4.5, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.2-16.3 and aOR 3.3, 95% CI = .9-11.9, respectively). No associations were found between malaria before the Doppler measurement and abnormal UA Doppler. Conclusions Malaria infections in the first half of pregnancy impair placental blood flow. This highlights the need to prevent malaria from the very beginning of pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aude Mondeilh
- Research Institute for Sustainable Development (IRD) EMR 271, Bordeaux Population Health Centre, National Institute for Health and Medical Research (INSERM) UMR 1219, University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | - Emmanuel Yovo
- Institut de Recherche Clinique du Bénin (IRCB), Abomey-Calavi, Benin
- Montpellier Interdisciplinary Center on Sustainable Agri-food Systems (MoISA), Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Manfred Accrombessi
- Institut de Recherche Clinique du Bénin (IRCB), Abomey-Calavi, Benin
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Disease Control Department, London School of Hygiene and Tropical MedicineLondon, United Kingdom
| | - Cornelia Hounkonnou
- Centre d'investigation clinique, module épidémiologie clinique (CIC-EC 1425), Université Paris Cité and Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, Paris, France
- Département d’Épidémiologie, Biostatistique et Recherche Clinique, AP-HP, Hôpital BichatParis, France
| | - Gino Agbota
- Institut de Recherche Clinique du Bénin (IRCB), Abomey-Calavi, Benin
| | - William Atade
- Institut de Recherche Clinique du Bénin (IRCB), Abomey-Calavi, Benin
| | | | - Murielle Mehoba
- Institut de Recherche Clinique du Bénin (IRCB), Abomey-Calavi, Benin
| | - Auguste Degbe
- Institut de Recherche Clinique du Bénin (IRCB), Abomey-Calavi, Benin
| | - Bertin Vianou
- Institut de Recherche Clinique du Bénin (IRCB), Abomey-Calavi, Benin
| | - Dariou Sossou
- Institut de Recherche Clinique du Bénin (IRCB), Abomey-Calavi, Benin
| | - Nicaise Tuikue Ndam
- Research Institute for Sustainable Development (IRD), UMR 261 MERIT, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | | | - Rose McGready
- Shoklo Malaria Research Unit, Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Mae Sot, Thailand
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Nadine Fievet
- Research Institute for Sustainable Development (IRD), UMR 261 MERIT, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Marcus J Rijken
- Julius Global Health, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Gilles Cottrell
- Research Institute for Sustainable Development (IRD), UMR 261 MERIT, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Valérie Briand
- Research Institute for Sustainable Development (IRD) EMR 271, Bordeaux Population Health Centre, National Institute for Health and Medical Research (INSERM) UMR 1219, University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
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Öztürk FU, Tezcan Ş, Soy EHA, Uslu N, Haberal M. Doppler ultrasonography blood flow changes of the hepatic artery in liver transplants complicated with cholangitis. JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ULTRASOUND : JCU 2023; 51:860-865. [PMID: 37029647 DOI: 10.1002/jcu.23466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Revised: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Cholangitis after liver transplantation may lead to bile duct necrosis. Early diagnosis is essential to prevent graft loss. We aimed to investigate cholangitis related hepatic arterial Doppler ultrasonography findings in liver transplants. METHODS Patients complicated with biopsy proven cholangitis in grafts were prospectively evaluated. Vascular complications were excluded. Doppler ultrasonography parameters including hepatic arterial diameter, resistive index, volume flow, and portal vein maximum velocity were measured twice: first during cholangitis and after full recovery. Data of two groups were compared using paired samples t test and Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS The mean hepatic arterial volume flow, resistive index, and diameter of 33 patients complicated with cholangitis was observed to decrease after recovery from 0.356 to 0.273 L/min (p = 0.007), from 0.64 to 0.60 (p < 0.001) and from 4.9 to 4.4 mm (p < 0.001), respectively. Portal vein maximum velocity alteration was not statistically significant (p = 0.6). CONCLUSION Ultrasound follow-ups after liver transplantation can give us the clue of cholangitis initiation through some altering hepatic arterial Doppler parameters. Even though these are nonspecific findings that can also be observed in vascular complications, baseline Doppler data should be saved for future comparison and considered to prevent biliary associated graft loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Funda Ulu Öztürk
- Department of Radiology, Başkent University Medical Faculty, Ankara, Turkey
- Department of Radiology, Memorial Ankara Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Şehnaz Tezcan
- Department of Radiology, Başkent University Medical Faculty, Ankara, Turkey
- Department of Radiology, Koru Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Ebru Hatice Ayvazoğlu Soy
- Department of General Surgery, Başkent University Medical Faculty, Ankara, Turkey
- Department of General Surgery, Bayındır Söğütözü Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Nihal Uslu
- Department of Radiology, Başkent University Medical Faculty, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Mehmet Haberal
- Department of General Surgery, Başkent University Medical Faculty, Ankara, Turkey
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Cariaco Y, Durán-Rodriguez AT, Almeida MPO, Silva NM. CCR5 contributes to adverse outcomes during malaria in pregnancy. Cytokine 2023; 162:156110. [PMID: 36565608 DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2022.156110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Revised: 11/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
CCR5 is a chemokine receptor that mediates cell recruitment to sites of inflammation. It has been previously reported that the expression of CCR5 is increased in the placentas of women with malaria, a disease characterized by causing deliveries with low birth weight among other complications. CCR5 has been associated with pathology of protozoan infections during pregnancy but its role during malaria in pregnancy has not been elucidated. In the present work, we assessed the pregnancy outcome, placental structure, and levels of inflammatory markers of pregnant C57BL/6 and CCR5-/- mice infected or not with Plasmodium berghei NK65, with the purpose of determine the role of CCR5 in pregnancy associated malaria complications. We demonstrated that the expression of CCR5 mRNA increases in late pregnancy placentas of C57BL/6 when compared to uninfected controls. Infected pregnant C57BL/6 mice showed preterm birth, decreased fetal weight, placental inefficiency, and reduced placental vascular space. On the other hand, CCR5 deficiency led to increased levels of maternal parasitemia, reduced fetal weight and placental inefficiency compared to C57BL/6 mice. However, the infection did not cause additional changes in these parameters or in the incidence of preterm delivery in infected CCR5-/- mice in relation to C57BL/6 mice, showing that CCR5 may contribute to the adverse effects caused by infection during pregnancy. This improvement in pregnancy outcome, observed in infected CCR5-/- mice, was accompanied by lower placental levels of the inflammatory markers, such as TNF and NAG. Furthermore, it was observed that the placentas of CCR5-/- animals showed structural differences in relation to C57BL/6 mice, which could improve the efficiency of maternal-fetal exchanges, reflecting on fetal weight. Taken together, these results indicate that CCR5 expression contributes to the adverse outcomes caused by malaria in late pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yusmaris Cariaco
- Laboratory of Immunopathology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Andrea Tatiana Durán-Rodriguez
- Laboratory of Immunopathology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Marcos Paulo Oliveira Almeida
- Laboratory of Immunopathology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Neide Maria Silva
- Laboratory of Immunopathology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
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Simon N, Shallat J, Houck J, Jagannathan P, Prahl M, Muhindo MK, Kakuru A, Olwoch P, Feeney ME, Harrington WE. Peripheral Plasmodium falciparum Infection in Early Pregnancy Is Associated With Increased Maternal Microchimerism in the Offspring. J Infect Dis 2021; 224:2105-2112. [PMID: 34010401 PMCID: PMC8672744 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiab275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Placental malaria has been associated with increased cord blood maternal microchimerism (MMc), which in turn may affect susceptibility to malaria in the offspring. We sought to determine the impact of maternal peripheral Plasmodium falciparum parasitemia during pregnancy on MMc and to determine whether maternal cells expand during primary parasitemia in the offspring. METHODS We conducted a nested cohort study of maternal-infant pairs from a prior pregnancy malaria chemoprevention study. Maternal microchimerism was measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction targeting a maternal-specific marker in genomic DNA from cord blood, first P falciparum parasitemia, and preparasitemia. Logistic and negative binomial regression were used to assess the impact of maternal peripheral parasitemia, symptomatic malaria, and placental malaria on cord blood MMc. Generalized estimating equations were used to assess predictors of MMc during infancy. RESULTS Early maternal parasitemia was associated with increased detection of cord blood MMc (adjusted odds ratio = 3.91, P = .03), whereas late parasitemia, symptomatic malaria, and placental malaria were not. The first parasitemia episode in the infant was not associated with increased MMc relative to preparasitemia. CONCLUSIONS Maternal parasitemia early in pregnancy may increase the amount of MMc acquired by the fetus. Future work should investigate the impact of this MMc on immune responses in the offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neta Simon
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Microbiology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Jaclyn Shallat
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Microbiology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - John Houck
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | | | - Mary Prahl
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Mary K Muhindo
- Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Abel Kakuru
- Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Peter Olwoch
- Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Margaret E Feeney
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Whitney E Harrington
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
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6
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Chua CLL, Khoo SKM, Ong JLE, Ramireddi GK, Yeo TW, Teo A. Malaria in Pregnancy: From Placental Infection to Its Abnormal Development and Damage. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:777343. [PMID: 34867919 PMCID: PMC8636035 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.777343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria remains a global health burden with Plasmodium falciparum accounting for the highest mortality and morbidity. Malaria in pregnancy can lead to the development of placental malaria, where P. falciparum-infected erythrocytes adhere to placental receptors, triggering placental inflammation and subsequent damage, causing harm to both mother and her infant. Histopathological studies of P. falciparum-infected placentas revealed various placental abnormalities such as excessive perivillous fibrinoid deposits, breakdown of syncytiotrophoblast integrity, trophoblast basal lamina thickening, increased syncytial knotting, and accumulation of mononuclear immune cells within intervillous spaces. These events in turn, are likely to impair placental development and function, ultimately causing placental insufficiency, intrauterine growth restriction, preterm delivery and low birth weight. Hence, a better understanding of the mechanisms behind placental alterations and damage during placental malaria is needed for the design of effective interventions. In this review, using evidence from human studies and murine models, an integrated view on the potential mechanisms underlying placental pathologies in malaria in pregnancy is provided. The molecular, immunological and metabolic changes in infected placentas that reflect their responses to the parasitic infection and injury are discussed. Finally, potential models that can be used by researchers to improve our understanding on the pathogenesis of malaria in pregnancy and placental pathologies are presented.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jun Long Ernest Ong
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | | | - Tsin Wen Yeo
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
- National Center for Infectious Diseases, Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Andrew Teo
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Medicine at Royal Melbourne Hospital, Peter Doherty Institute, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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7
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Chua CLL, Hasang W, Rogerson SJ, Teo A. Poor Birth Outcomes in Malaria in Pregnancy: Recent Insights Into Mechanisms and Prevention Approaches. Front Immunol 2021; 12:621382. [PMID: 33790894 PMCID: PMC8005559 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.621382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 02/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Pregnant women in malaria-endemic regions are susceptible to malaria in pregnancy, which has adverse consequences on birth outcomes, including having small for gestational age and preterm babies. These babies are likely to have low birthweights, which predisposes to infant mortality and lifelong morbidities. During malaria in pregnancy, Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes express a unique variant surface antigen, VAR2CSA, that mediates sequestration in the placenta. This process may initiate a range of host responses that contribute to placental inflammation and dysregulated placental development, which affects placental vasculogenesis, angiogenesis and nutrient transport. Collectively, these result in the impairment of placental functions, affecting fetal development. In this review, we provide an overview of malaria in pregnancy and the different pathological pathways leading to malaria in pregnancy-associated low birthweight. We also discuss current prevention and management strategies for malaria in pregnancy, and some potential therapeutic interventions that may improve birth outcomes. Lastly, we outline some priorities for future research that could bring us one step closer to reducing this health burden.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Wina Hasang
- Department of Medicine at Royal Melbourne Hospital, Peter Doherty Institute, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Stephen J Rogerson
- Department of Medicine at Royal Melbourne Hospital, Peter Doherty Institute, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Andrew Teo
- Department of Medicine at Royal Melbourne Hospital, Peter Doherty Institute, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
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Vogel JP, Vannevel V, Robbers G, Gwako G, Lavin T, Adanikin A, Hlongwane T, Pattinson RC, Qureshi ZP, Oladapo OT. Prevalence of abnormal umbilical arterial flow on Doppler ultrasound in low-risk and unselected pregnant women: a systematic review. Reprod Health 2021; 18:38. [PMID: 33579315 PMCID: PMC7881445 DOI: 10.1186/s12978-021-01088-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2020] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background While Doppler ultrasound screening is beneficial for women with high-risk pregnancies, there is insufficient evidence on its benefits and harms in low- and unselected-risk pregnancies. This may be related to fewer events of abnormal Doppler flow, however the prevalence of absent or reversed end diastolic flow (AEDF or REDF) in such women is unknown. In this systematic review, we aimed to synthesise available data on the prevalence of AEDF or REDF. Methods We searched PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, CENTRAL and Global Index Medicus with no date, setting or language restrictions. All randomized or non-randomized studies reporting AEDF or REDF prevalence based on Doppler assessment of umbilical arterial flow > 20 weeks’ gestation were eligible. Two authors assessed eligibility and extracted data on primary (AEDF and REDF) and secondary (fetal, perinatal, and neonatal mortality, caesarean section) outcomes, with results presented descriptively. Results A total of 42 studies (18,282 women) were included. Thirty-six studies reported zero AEDF or REDF cases. However, 55 AEDF or REDF cases were identified from just six studies (prevalence 0.08% to 2.13%). Four of these studies were in unselected-risk women and five were conducted in high-income countries. There was limited evidence from low- and middle-income countries. Conclusions Evidence from largely observational studies in higher-income countries suggests that AEDF and REDF are rare among low- and unselected-risk pregnant women. There are insufficient data from lower-income countries and further research is required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua P Vogel
- Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health Program, Burnet Institute, 85 Commercial Road, Melbourne, 3000, Australia.
| | - Valerie Vannevel
- South African Medical Research Council/University of Pretoria Maternal and Infant Health Care Strategies Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Pretoria, Unit Private Bag X323 Arcadia, Pretoria, 0007, South Africa
| | - Gianna Robbers
- Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health Program, Burnet Institute, 85 Commercial Road, Melbourne, 3000, Australia
| | - George Gwako
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Tina Lavin
- School of Population and Global Health, University of Western Australia, Hackett Drive, Crawley, Perth, Australia.,UNDP/UNFPA/UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP), Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Abiodun Adanikin
- UNDP/UNFPA/UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP), Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Tsakane Hlongwane
- South African Medical Research Council/University of Pretoria Maternal and Infant Health Care Strategies Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Pretoria, Unit Private Bag X323 Arcadia, Pretoria, 0007, South Africa
| | - Robert C Pattinson
- South African Medical Research Council/University of Pretoria Maternal and Infant Health Care Strategies Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Pretoria, Unit Private Bag X323 Arcadia, Pretoria, 0007, South Africa
| | - Zahida P Qureshi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Olufemi T Oladapo
- UNDP/UNFPA/UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP), Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
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9
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Valderrama CE, Ketabi N, Marzbanrad F, Rohloff P, Clifford GD. A review of fetal cardiac monitoring, with a focus on low- and middle-income countries. Physiol Meas 2020; 41:11TR01. [PMID: 33105122 PMCID: PMC9216228 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6579/abc4c7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
There is limited evidence regarding the utility of fetal monitoring during pregnancy, particularly during labor and delivery. Developed countries rely on consensus ‘best practices’ of obstetrics and gynecology professional societies to guide their protocols and policies. Protocols are often driven by the desire to be as safe as possible and avoid litigation, regardless of the cost of downstream treatment. In high-resource settings, there may be a justification for this approach. In low-resource settings, in particular, interventions can be costly and lead to adverse outcomes in subsequent pregnancies. Therefore, it is essential to consider the evidence and cost of different fetal monitoring approaches, particularly in the context of treatment and care in low-to-middle income countries. This article reviews the standard methods used for fetal monitoring, with particular emphasis on fetal cardiac assessment, which is a reliable indicator of fetal well-being. An overview of fetal monitoring practices in low-to-middle income counties, including perinatal care access challenges, is also presented. Finally, an overview of how mobile technology may help reduce barriers to perinatal care access in low-resource settings is provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camilo E Valderrama
- Data Intelligence for Health Lab, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
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10
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Saito M, Briand V, Min AM, McGready R. Deleterious effects of malaria in pregnancy on the developing fetus: a review on prevention and treatment with antimalarial drugs. THE LANCET CHILD & ADOLESCENT HEALTH 2020; 4:761-774. [PMID: 32946830 DOI: 10.1016/s2352-4642(20)30099-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2020] [Revised: 03/09/2020] [Accepted: 03/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
All malaria infections are harmful to both the pregnant mother and the developing fetus. One in ten maternal deaths in malaria endemic countries are estimated to result from Plasmodium falciparum infection. Malaria is associated with a 3-4 times increased risk of miscarriage and a substantially increased risk of stillbirth. Current treatment and prevention strategies reduce, but do not eliminate, malaria's damaging effects on pregnancy outcomes. Reviewing evidence generated from meta-analyses, systematic reviews, and observational data, the first paper in this Series aims to summarise the adverse effects of malaria in pregnancy on the fetus and how the current drug treatment and prevention strategies can alleviate these effects. Although evidence supports the safety and treatment efficacy of artemisinin-based combination therapies in the first trimester, these therapies have not been recommended by WHO for the treatment of malaria at this stage of pregnancy. Intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in pregnancy with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine is contraindicated in the first trimester and provides imperfect chemoprevention because of inadequate dosing, poor (few and late) antenatal clinic attendance, increasing antimalarial drug resistance, and decreasing naturally acquired maternal immunity due to the decreased incidence of malaria. Alternative strategies to prevent malaria in pregnancy are needed. The prevention of all malaria infections by providing sustained exposure to effective concentrations of antimalarial drugs is key to reducing the adverse effects of malaria in pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Makoto Saito
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Advanced Clinical Research Center, The Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Valérie Briand
- Infectious Diseases in Lower Income Countries, Research Institute for Sustainable Development, French National Institute of Health and Medical Research, University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | - Aung Myat Min
- Shoklo Malaria Research Unit, Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Mae Sot, Thailand
| | - Rose McGready
- Shoklo Malaria Research Unit, Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Mae Sot, Thailand; Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
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11
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Accrombessi M, Yovo E, Fievet N, Cottrell G, Agbota G, Gartner A, Martin-Prevel Y, Vianou B, Sossou D, Fanou-Fogny N, Djossinou D, Massougbodji A, Cot M, Briand V. Effects of Malaria in the First Trimester of Pregnancy on Poor Maternal and Birth Outcomes in Benin. Clin Infect Dis 2020; 69:1385-1393. [PMID: 30561538 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciy1073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2018] [Accepted: 12/12/2018] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In sub-Saharan Africa, malaria in the first half of pregnancy is harmful for both the mother and her fetus. However, malaria in the first trimester of pregnancy, when women are usually not protected against malaria, has been little investigated. For the first time, we assessed the effects of malaria in the first trimester on maternal and birth outcomes using a preconceptional study design. METHODS From June 2014 to March 2017, 1214 women of reproductive age were recruited and followed monthly until 411 became pregnant. The pregnant women were then followed from 5-6 weeks of gestation until delivery. Path analysis was used to assess the direct effect (ie, not mediated by malaria in the second or third trimester) of malaria in the first trimester on maternal anemia and poor birth outcomes. The cumulative effect of infections during pregnancy on the same outcomes was also evaluated. RESULTS The prevalence of malaria infections in the first trimester was 21.8%. Malaria in the first trimester was significantly associated with maternal anemia in the third trimester (adjusted odds ratio 2.25, 95% confidence interval 1.11-4.55). While we did not find evidence of any direct effect of first trimester malaria infections on birth outcomes, their association with infections later in pregnancy tended to increase the risk of low birth weights. CONCLUSIONS Malaria infections in the first trimester were highly prevalent and have deleterious effects on maternal anemia. They highlight the need for additional preventive measures, starting in early pregnancy or even before conception.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manfred Accrombessi
- Joint Research Unit 216, Mothers and Children Facing Tropical Infections (MERIT), French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development, Université Paris 5, Sorbonne Paris Cité, France.,Centre d'Etude et de Recherche sur le Paludisme Associé à la Grossesse et à l'Enfance, Cotonou, Benin
| | - Emmanuel Yovo
- Centre d'Etude et de Recherche sur le Paludisme Associé à la Grossesse et à l'Enfance, Cotonou, Benin
| | - Nadine Fievet
- Joint Research Unit 216, Mothers and Children Facing Tropical Infections (MERIT), French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development, Université Paris 5, Sorbonne Paris Cité, France
| | - Gilles Cottrell
- Joint Research Unit 216, Mothers and Children Facing Tropical Infections (MERIT), French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development, Université Paris 5, Sorbonne Paris Cité, France
| | - Gino Agbota
- Joint Research Unit 216, Mothers and Children Facing Tropical Infections (MERIT), French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development, Université Paris 5, Sorbonne Paris Cité, France.,Centre d'Etude et de Recherche sur le Paludisme Associé à la Grossesse et à l'Enfance, Cotonou, Benin
| | - Agnès Gartner
- UJoint Research Unit 204, Nutrition and Food of the Populations in the South (NUTRIPASS), French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development, Université de Montpellier, SupAgro, Montpellier, France
| | - Yves Martin-Prevel
- UJoint Research Unit 204, Nutrition and Food of the Populations in the South (NUTRIPASS), French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development, Université de Montpellier, SupAgro, Montpellier, France
| | - Bertin Vianou
- Centre d'Etude et de Recherche sur le Paludisme Associé à la Grossesse et à l'Enfance, Cotonou, Benin
| | - Darius Sossou
- Centre d'Etude et de Recherche sur le Paludisme Associé à la Grossesse et à l'Enfance, Cotonou, Benin
| | - Nadia Fanou-Fogny
- Ecole de Nutrition et des Sciences et Technologies Alimentaires, Faculté des Sciences Agronomiques, Université d'Abomey-Calavi, Benin
| | - Diane Djossinou
- UJoint Research Unit 204, Nutrition and Food of the Populations in the South (NUTRIPASS), French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development, Université de Montpellier, SupAgro, Montpellier, France.,Ecole de Nutrition et des Sciences et Technologies Alimentaires, Faculté des Sciences Agronomiques, Université d'Abomey-Calavi, Benin
| | - Achille Massougbodji
- Centre d'Etude et de Recherche sur le Paludisme Associé à la Grossesse et à l'Enfance, Cotonou, Benin
| | - Michel Cot
- Joint Research Unit 216, Mothers and Children Facing Tropical Infections (MERIT), French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development, Université Paris 5, Sorbonne Paris Cité, France
| | - Valérie Briand
- Joint Research Unit 216, Mothers and Children Facing Tropical Infections (MERIT), French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development, Université Paris 5, Sorbonne Paris Cité, France
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12
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Stewart KA, Navarro SM, Kambala S, Tan G, Poondla R, Lederman S, Barbour K, Lavy C. Trends in Ultrasound Use in Low and Middle Income Countries: A Systematic Review. Int J MCH AIDS 2020; 9:103-120. [PMID: 32123634 PMCID: PMC7031872 DOI: 10.21106/ijma.294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Evidence on recent trends regarding the impact and cost-benefits of ultrasound in resource-constrained settings is limited. This study presents a systematic review to determine recent trends in the utility and applicability of ultrasound use in low and middle income countries (LMIC). The review includes characterizing and evaluating trends in (1) the geographic and specialty specific use of ultrasound in LMICs, (2) the innovative applications and the accompanying research findings, and (3) the development of associated educational and training programs. METHODS The electronic databases Medline OVID, EMBASE, and Cochrane were searched from 2010 to 2018 for studies available in English, French, and Spanish. Commentaries, opinion articles, reviews and book chapters were excluded. Two categories were created, one for reported applications of ultrasound use in LMICs and another for novel ultrasound studies. RESULTS A total of 6,276 articles were identified and screened, 4,563 studies were included for final review. 287 studies contained original or novel applications of ultrasound use in LMICs. Nearly 70% of studies involved ultrasound usage originating from Southeast Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, the latter being the region with the highest number of innovative ultrasound use. Educational studies, global collaborations, and funded studies were a substantial subset of overall ultrasound research. Our findings are limited by the lack of higher quality evidence and limited number of randomized clinical trials reported. CONCLUSION AND GLOBAL HEALTH IMPLICATIONS Our systematic literature review of ultrasound use in LMICs demonstrates the growing utilization of this relatively low-cost, portable imaging technology in low resource settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelsey A. Stewart
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA
| | - Sergio M. Navarro
- Said Business School, Oxford, UK
- Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Sriharsha Kambala
- Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Gail Tan
- Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Revanth Poondla
- Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Sara Lederman
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA
| | - Kelli Barbour
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Chris Lavy
- Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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13
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Weckman AM, Ngai M, Wright J, McDonald CR, Kain KC. The Impact of Infection in Pregnancy on Placental Vascular Development and Adverse Birth Outcomes. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:1924. [PMID: 31507551 PMCID: PMC6713994 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.01924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2019] [Accepted: 08/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Healthy fetal development is dependent on nutrient and oxygen transfer via the placenta. Optimal growth and function of placental vasculature is therefore essential to support in utero development. Vasculogenesis, the de novo formation of blood vessels, and angiogenesis, the branching and remodeling of existing vasculature, mediate the development and maturation of placental villi, which form the materno-fetal interface. Several lines of evidence indicate that systemic maternal infection and consequent inflammation can disrupt placental vasculogenesis and angiogenesis. The resulting alterations in placental hemodynamics impact fetal growth and contribute to poor birth outcomes including preterm delivery, small-for-gestational age (SGA), stillbirth, and low birth weight (LBW). Furthermore, pathways involved in maternal immune activation and placental vascularization parallel those involved in normal fetal development, notably neurovascular development. Therefore, immune-mediated disruption of angiogenic pathways at the materno-fetal interface may also have long-term neurological consequences for offspring. Here, we review current literature evaluating the influence of maternal infection and immune activation at the materno-fetal interface and the subsequent impact on placental vascular function and birth outcome. Immunomodulatory pathways, including chemokines and cytokines released in response to maternal infection, interact closely with the principal pathways regulating placental vascular development, including the angiopoietin-Tie-2, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and placental growth factor (PlGF) pathways. A detailed mechanistic understanding of how maternal infections impact placental and fetal development is critical to the design of effective interventions to promote placental growth and function and thereby reduce adverse birth outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea M Weckman
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Michelle Ngai
- SAR Laboratories, Sandra Rotman Centre for Global Health, University Health Network-Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Julie Wright
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Chloe R McDonald
- SAR Laboratories, Sandra Rotman Centre for Global Health, University Health Network-Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Kevin C Kain
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,SAR Laboratories, Sandra Rotman Centre for Global Health, University Health Network-Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Tropical Disease Unit, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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14
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Accrombessi M, Fievet N, Yovo E, Cottrell G, Agbota G, Massougbodji A, Cot M, Briand V. Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Malaria in the First Trimester of Pregnancy: A Preconceptional Cohort Study in Benin. J Infect Dis 2019; 217:1309-1317. [PMID: 29325055 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiy009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2017] [Accepted: 01/05/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background There is a lack of data on the burden of malaria in the first trimester of pregnancy in Africa, mainly because pregnant women generally attend the maternity clinic late. Bed nets are rarely provided to women before the second trimester of pregnancy and intermittent preventive treatment with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine is not recommended before the second trimester, leaving women insufficiently or not protected in early pregnancy. Methods To assess the burden of first trimester malaria, 387 women were followed up monthly from preconception to delivery. They were screened for malaria monthly from early pregnancy until delivery. A logistic multilevel model was used to assess maternal factors associated with malaria during the first trimester. Results The proportion of women with at least 1 microscopic malaria infection during the first trimester of pregnancy was 20.8%. Women infected with malaria preconception were more likely to be infected during the first trimester (adjusted odds ratio: 2.68; 95% confidence interval, 1.24-5.78). Early gestational age was also positively correlated with malaria infection. Conclusions Using a preconceptional study design, we showed that malaria was highly prevalent in early pregnancy. This calls for the assessment of new strategies that could protect women as soon as the first trimester.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manfred Accrombessi
- Mère et Enfant Face aux Infections Tropicales, French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development, Paris Descartes University, France.,Centre d'Etude et de Recherche sur le Paludisme Associé à la Grossesse et à l'Enfance, Cotonou, Benin
| | - Nadine Fievet
- Mère et Enfant Face aux Infections Tropicales, French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development, Paris Descartes University, France
| | - Emmanuel Yovo
- Centre d'Etude et de Recherche sur le Paludisme Associé à la Grossesse et à l'Enfance, Cotonou, Benin
| | - Gilles Cottrell
- Mère et Enfant Face aux Infections Tropicales, French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development, Paris Descartes University, France
| | - Gino Agbota
- Centre d'Etude et de Recherche sur le Paludisme Associé à la Grossesse et à l'Enfance, Cotonou, Benin
| | - Achille Massougbodji
- Centre d'Etude et de Recherche sur le Paludisme Associé à la Grossesse et à l'Enfance, Cotonou, Benin
| | - Michel Cot
- Mère et Enfant Face aux Infections Tropicales, French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development, Paris Descartes University, France
| | - Valérie Briand
- Mère et Enfant Face aux Infections Tropicales, French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development, Paris Descartes University, France
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