Malaria in pregnancy: small babies, big problem

Placental malaria is hypothesized to lead to placental insufficiency, which causes fetal growth restriction (FGR). In this review, recent discoveries regarding the mechanisms of pathogenesis by which malaria causes FGR are discussed in the wider context of placental function and fetal growth. Placen...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Trends in parasitology 2011-04, Vol.27 (4), p.168-175
Main Authors: Umbers, Alexandra J, Aitken, Elizabeth H, Rogerson, Stephen J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Biological and medical sciences
Female
fetal development
Fetal Growth Retardation - parasitology
Fetal Hypoxia - parasitology
Gastroenterology and Hepatology
General aspects
hormones
Human protozoal diseases
Humans
hypertension
Infant, Low Birth Weight
Infant, Newborn
infants
Infectious Disease
Infectious diseases
Malaria
Malaria - complications
Medical sciences
Parasitic diseases
parasitology
pathogenesis
Placenta - parasitology
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic - physiopathology
progeny
Protozoal diseases
risk factors
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Summary:Placental malaria is hypothesized to lead to placental insufficiency, which causes fetal growth restriction (FGR). In this review, recent discoveries regarding the mechanisms of pathogenesis by which malaria causes FGR are discussed in the wider context of placental function and fetal growth. Placental malaria and associated host responses can induce changes in placental structure and function, affecting pregnancy-associated growth-regulating hormones and predisposing the offspring to hypertension and vascular dysfunction. Risk factors associated with FGR are highlighted, and potential interventions and studies to uncover remaining mechanisms of pathogenesis are proposed. Together, these strategies aim to decrease the burden of FGR associated with malaria in pregnancy.
ISSN:1471-4922
1471-5007
DOI:10.1016/j.pt.2011.01.007