Infections Impacting Preeclampsia Outcomes
Summary
Infections are increasingly recognised as contributors to the development and severity of preeclampsia. This multisystem disorder, characterised by new-onset hypertension and organ dysfunction after 20 weeks of gestation, appears to be provoked or exacerbated by microbial invasion and the systemic inflammatory response to pathogens. Mechanistic studies highlight the role of placental endothelial dysfunction, dysregulated angiogenesis and oxidative stress triggered by microbial endotoxins and immune mediators. Common routes include the urinary and genital tracts, the gastrointestinal system and respiratory infections such as SARS-CoV-2. Global epidemiological data indicate that both acute and chronic infections can raise the risk of preeclampsia, with regional variations reflecting differences in pathogen prevalence and healthcare access. Understanding the interplay between infection, immune activation and placental pathology not only clarifies disease pathogenesis but also suggests potential interventions, from antimicrobial prophylaxis to targeted antioxidant or immunomodulatory therapies.
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Infections Impacting Preeclampsia Outcomes publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in infections impacting preeclampsia outcomes across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Preeclampsia: A pregnancy-specific hypertensive disorder, occurring after 20 weeks of gestation, characterised by high blood pressure and new-onset organ dysfunction.
Mendelian randomisation: A genetic epidemiology method using inherited genetic variants as instrumental variables to infer causal effects between risk factors and disease outcomes.
Oxidative stress: An imbalance between reactive oxygen species production and antioxidant defences, leading to molecular and cellular damage.
Endothelial dysfunction: Impaired function of the vascular endothelium, reducing its ability to regulate vascular tone and maintain circulatory homeostasis.
References
- Treating Preeclampsia in the COVID-19 Era: Is Allopurinol Useful as an Adjuvant Therapy? A Case Report and Review of the Literature. Stresses (2023).
- Causal associations between Helicobacter pylori infection and pregnancy and neonatal outcomes: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study. Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology (2024).
- The association of malaria infection and gestational hypertension in Africa: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Global Health (2020).
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