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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: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 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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Rent S, Bauserman M, Laktabai J, Tshefu AK, Taylor SM. Malaria in Pregnancy: Key Points for the Neonatologist. Neoreviews 2023; 24:e539-e552. [PMID: 37653081 DOI: 10.1542/neo.24-9-e539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
In malaria-endemic regions, infection with the malaria parasite Plasmodium during pregnancy has been identified as a key modifiable factor in preterm birth, the delivery of low-birthweight infants, and stillbirth. Compared with their nonpregnant peers, pregnant persons are at higher risk for malaria infection. Malaria infection can occur at any time during pregnancy, with negative effects for the pregnant person and the fetus, depending on the trimester in which the infection is contracted. Pregnant patients who are younger, in their first or second pregnancy, and those coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus are at increased risk for malaria. Common infection prevention measures during pregnancy include the use of insecticide-treated bed nets and the use of intermittent preventive treatment with monthly doses of antimalarials, beginning in the second trimester in pregnant patients in endemic areas. In all trimesters, artemisinin-combination therapies are the first-line treatment for uncomplicated falciparum malaria, similar to treatment in nonpregnant adults. The World Health Organization recently revised its recommendations, now listing the specific medication artemether-lumefantrine as first-line treatment for uncomplicated malaria in the first trimester. While strong prevention and detection methods exist, use of these techniques remains below global targets. Ongoing work on approaches to treatment and prevention of malaria during pregnancy remains at the forefront of global maternal child health research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharla Rent
- Department of Pediatrics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC
| | | | | | - Antoinette K Tshefu
- Kinshasa School of Public Health, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Steve M Taylor
- Department of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC
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Clark RL. Safety of Treating Malaria with Artemisinin-Based Combination Therapy in the First Trimester of Pregnancy. Reprod Toxicol 2022; 111:204-210. [PMID: 35667524 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2022.05.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Revised: 05/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
There have been recent calls for the use of artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) for uncomplicated malaria in the first trimester of pregnancy. Nevertheless, the 2021 WHO Guidelines for Malaria reaffirmed their position that there is not adequate clinical safety data on artemisinins to support that usage. The WHO's position is consistent with several issues with the existing clinical data. First, first trimester safety results from multiple ACTs were lumped in a meta-analysis which does not demonstrate that each of the included ACTs is equally safe. Second, safety results from all periods of the first trimester were lumped in the meta-analysis which does not demonstrate the same level of safety for all subperiods, particularly gestational Weeks 6 to 8 which is likely to be the most sensitive period. Third, even if there is evidence of a lack of an effect on miscarriage for a particular ACT, it does not follow then there are no developmental effects for any ACT. In monkeys, artesunate caused marked embryonal anemia leading to embryo death but the long-term consequences of lower levels of embryonal anemia are not known. Fourth, there have been advances in the sensitivity and usage of rapid diagnostic tests that will lead to diagnoses of malaria earlier in gestation which is less well studied and more likely sensitive to artemisinins. Any clinical studies of the safety of ACTs in the first trimester need to evaluate the results of treatment with individual ACTs during different 1- to 2-week periods of the first trimester.
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Andrew AK, Cooper CA, Moore JM. A novel murine model of post-implantation malaria-induced preterm birth. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0256060. [PMID: 35312688 PMCID: PMC8936457 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0256060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite major advances made in malaria treatment and control over recent decades, the development of new models for studying disease pathogenesis remains a vital part of malaria research efforts. The study of malaria infection during pregnancy is particularly reliant on mouse models, as a means of circumventing many challenges and costs associated with pregnancy studies in endemic human populations. Here, we introduce a novel murine model that will further our understanding of how malaria infection affects pregnancy outcome. When C57BL/6J (B6) mice are infected with Plasmodium chabaudi chabaudi AS on either embryonic day (E) 6.5, 8.5, or 10.5, preterm birth occurs in all animals by E16.5, E17.5, or E18.5 respectively, with no evidence of intrauterine growth restriction. Despite having the same outcome, we found that the time to delivery, placental inflammatory and antioxidant transcript upregulation, and the relationships between parasitemia and transcript expression prior to preterm birth differed based on the embryonic day of infection. On the day before preterm delivery, E6.5 infected mice did not experience significant upregulation of the inflammatory or antioxidant gene transcripts examined; however, peripheral and placental parasitemia correlated positively with Il1β, Cox1, Cat, and Hmox1 placental transcript abundance. E8.5 infected mice had elevated transcripts for Ifnγ, Tnf, Il10, Cox1, Cox2, Sod1, Sod2, Cat, and Nrf2, while Sod3 was the only transcript that correlated with parasitemia. Finally, E10.5 infected mice had elevated transcripts for Ifnγ only, with a tendency for Tnf transcripts to correlate with peripheral parasitemia. Tumor necrosis factor deficient (TNF-/-) and TNF receptor 1 deficient (TNFR1-/-) mice infected on E8.5 experienced preterm birth at the same time as B6 controls. Further characterization of this model is necessary to discover the mechanism(s) and/or trigger(s) responsible for malaria-driven preterm birth caused by maternal infection during early pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicer K. Andrew
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
- Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Caitlin A. Cooper
- Department of Cellular Biology, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Julie M. Moore
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
- Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
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OUP accepted manuscript. J Infect Dis 2022; 225:1777-1785. [DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiac012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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Azam M, Upmanyu K, Gupta R, Sruthy KS, Matlani M, Savargaonkar D, Singh R. Development of Two-Tube Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Assay for Differential Diagnosis of Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax and Its Comparison with Loopamp™ Malaria. Diagnostics (Basel) 2021; 11:diagnostics11091689. [PMID: 34574030 PMCID: PMC8467429 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics11091689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Revised: 05/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
To strengthen malaria surveillance, field-appropriate diagnostics requiring limited technical resources are of critical significance. Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) based malaria diagnostic assays are potential point-of-care tests with high sensitivity and specificity and have been used in low-resource settings. Plasmodium vivax–specific consensus repeat sequence (CRS)-based and Plasmodium falciparum–specific 18S rRNA primers were designed, and a two-tube LAMP assay was developed. The diagnostic performance of a closed-tube LAMP assay and Loopamp™ Malaria Detection (Pan/Pf, Pv) kit was investigated using nested PCR confirmed mono- and co-infections of P. vivax and P. falciparum positive (n = 149) and negative (n = 67) samples. The closed-tube Pv LAMP assay showed positive amplification in 40 min (limit of detection, LOD 0.7 parasites/µL) and Pf LAMP assay in 30 min (LOD 2 parasites/µL). Pv LAMP and Pf LAMP demonstrated a sensitivity and specificity of 100% (95% CI, 95.96–100% and 89.85–100%, respectively). The LoopampTM Pan/Pf Malaria Detection kit demonstrated a sensitivity and specificity of 100%, whereas LoopampTM Pv showed a sensitivity of 98.36% (95% CI, 91.28–99.71%) and specificity of 100% (95% CI, 87.54–100%). The developed two-tube LAMP assay is highly sensitive (LOD ≤ 2 parasite/µL), demonstrating comparable results with the commercial Loopamp™ Malaria Detection (Pf/pan) kit, and was superior in detecting the P. vivax co-infection that remained undetected by the Loopamp™ Pv kit. The developed indigenous two-tube Pf/Pv malaria detection can reliably be used for mass screening in resource-limited areas endemic for both P. falciparum and P. vivax malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mudsser Azam
- Molecular Biology Laboratory, ICMR- National Institute of Pathology, New Delhi 110029, India; (M.A.); (K.U.); (K.S.S.)
| | - Kirti Upmanyu
- Molecular Biology Laboratory, ICMR- National Institute of Pathology, New Delhi 110029, India; (M.A.); (K.U.); (K.S.S.)
| | - Ratan Gupta
- Department of Paediatrics, VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi 110029, India;
| | - Karugatharayil Sasi Sruthy
- Molecular Biology Laboratory, ICMR- National Institute of Pathology, New Delhi 110029, India; (M.A.); (K.U.); (K.S.S.)
| | - Monika Matlani
- Department of Microbiology, VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi 110029, India;
| | | | - Ruchi Singh
- Molecular Biology Laboratory, ICMR- National Institute of Pathology, New Delhi 110029, India; (M.A.); (K.U.); (K.S.S.)
- Correspondence: or ; Tel.:+91-11-2616-61-24; Fax: 91-11-26198401
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Singoei M, Obimbo MM, Odula PO, Gitaka J, Ongidi IH. Changes in the structure of chorioamniotic membrane in patients with malaria in pregnancy. Placenta 2021; 114:42-49. [PMID: 34425402 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2021.08.054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2021] [Revised: 07/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Malaria infection in pregnancy has adverse consequences for both fetal and maternal health. There is insufficient data on the effect malaria in pregnancy has on the structure of the chorioamniotic membrane. Our objective was to determine the structure of the chorioamniotic membrane in patients with malaria in pregnancy. METHODS Specimens of the chorioamniotic membrane from 58 women with malaria in pregnancy and 58 women without malaria in pregnancy were used for this study. Biopsies of the fetal membranes were obtained immediately after delivery and processed for light microscopy. They were stained using H & E. Photomicrographs were taken for morphological analysis and statistical analyses were performed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS, Version 23.0, Chicago, Illinois). The independent-sample t-test and odds ratios were used to compare the appropriate values between the two groups at a 95% confidence interval. RESULTS Photomicrographs of the chorioamniotic membrane showed histological alterations, including a change of amniotic epithelium to columnar and stratified types, epithelial delamination, extensive fibrin deposition, and leukocyte infiltration in women with malaria in pregnancy. Statistical analysis found significant differences in epithelial type (p-value 0.001, ×2 = 17.9), epithelial denudation (p-value <0.001, ×2 = 19.4) and extensive fibrin deposition (p-value of 0.02 and ×2 = 7.5) between the study groups. DISCUSSION This study has demonstrated histological alterations in the chorioamniotic membrane in association with malaria in pregnancy. Further studies may be conducted to characterize chorioamnionitis in malaria in pregnancy and associations with adverse pregnancy outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mercy Singoei
- Department of Human Anatomy, University of Nairobi. P.O. Box 30197, 00100, Nairobi, Kenya.
| | - Moses Madadi Obimbo
- Department of Human Anatomy, University of Nairobi. P.O. Box 30197, 00100, Nairobi, Kenya.
| | - Paul Ochieng Odula
- Department of Human Anatomy, University of Nairobi. P.O. Box 30197, 00100, Nairobi, Kenya.
| | - Jesse Gitaka
- Directorate of Research and Innovation, Mount Kenya University. P.O. Box 342, 01000, Thika, Kenya.
| | - Ibsen Henric Ongidi
- Department of Human Anatomy, University of Nairobi. P.O. Box 30197, 00100, Nairobi, Kenya.
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Chakrabarti A. Deforestation and infant mortality: Evidence from Indonesia. ECONOMICS AND HUMAN BIOLOGY 2021; 40:100943. [PMID: 33242794 DOI: 10.1016/j.ehb.2020.100943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2020] [Revised: 07/27/2020] [Accepted: 11/02/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Factors expected to change concurrently with forest loss-such as economic activity and air pollution-shape human health in different ways, making it difficult to ex ante predict the net impact of deforestation. This paper investigates the infant mortality effects of prenatal exposure to high biomass forest loss in Indonesia, a country with rich forest reserves increasingly being subjected to high levels of deforestation. Indonesia officially bans clearing in areas with high biomass natural forests (referred to henceforth as 'protected forests'), yet these forests face illegal logging. The analysis uses a fixed effects approach, essentially tracking how mortality responds to protected forest cover changes over time within districts. Results suggest that protected forest loss favors survival among all infants. However, there is variation in the protected forest loss-infant mortality relationship by pregnancy order or gravidity-while children born from women's higher order pregnancies are less likely to die when exposed to deforestation, children born from first pregnancies experience an increase in their risk of death. Potential mechanisms such as overall air pollution, economic activity and perinatal health care do not appear to explain the gravidity-specific effects of deforestation in protected areas. However, the observed pattern of results suggests that effects are being channeled through malaria-the disease, which is likely to increase with forest loss, tends to disproportionately infect women during their first pregnancy, thus causing greater harm to the children born from these pregnancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Averi Chakrabarti
- Department of Global Health and Population, T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, 90 Smith Street, Boston, MA, 02120, United States.
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Matlani M, Kojom LP, Mishra N, Dogra V, Singh V. Severe vivax malaria trends in the last two years: a study from a tertiary care centre, Delhi, India. Ann Clin Microbiol Antimicrob 2020; 19:49. [PMID: 33126884 PMCID: PMC7602347 DOI: 10.1186/s12941-020-00393-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Plasmodium vivax, once considered benign species, is recently being recognised to be causing severe malaria like Plasmodium falciparum. In the present study, the authors report the trends in malaria severity in P. vivax among patients from a Delhi government hospital. The aim of the study was to understand the disease severity and the burden of severe vivax malaria. Methods A hospital based study was carried out from June 2017 to December 2018 at a tertiary care centre from Delhi, India. Patients were tested for malaria using peripheral blood smear (PBS) and/or rapid malaria antigen test (RMAT). The severe and non-severe vivax malaria categorization was done as per the WHO guidelines. Sociodemographic, clinic and paraclinical data were collected from patients and their medical records. Results Of the 205 patients, 177 (86.3%) had P. vivax infection, 22 (10.7%) had P. falciparum infection and six (2.9%) had mixed infection with both the species. Out of 177 P. vivax cases included in this study one or more manifestations of severe malaria was found in 58 cases (32.7%). Severe anaemia (56.9%), jaundice (15%) and significant bleeding (15%) were the most common complications reported in most of patients, along with thrombocytopenia. Conclusions In this study, it is evident that vivax malaria is emerging as the new severe disease in malaria patients, a significant shift in the paradigm of P. vivax pathogenesis. The spectrum of complications and alterations in the laboratory parameters in P. vivax clinical cases also indicate the recent shift in the disease severity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Matlani
- Department of Microbiology, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India
| | - Loick P Kojom
- Cell Biology Laboratory and Malaria Parasite Bank, ICMR-National Institute of Malaria Research, New Delhi, India
| | - Neelangi Mishra
- Department of Microbiology, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India
| | - Vinita Dogra
- Department of Microbiology, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India
| | - Vineeta Singh
- Cell Biology Laboratory and Malaria Parasite Bank, ICMR-National Institute of Malaria Research, New Delhi, India.
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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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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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Bihoun B, Zango SH, Traoré-Coulibaly M, Valea I, Ravinetto R, Van Geertruyden JP, D'Alessandro U, Tinto H, Robert A. Fetal biometry assessment with Intergrowth 21st's and Salomon's equations in rural Burkina Faso. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2020; 20:492. [PMID: 32847549 PMCID: PMC7449020 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-020-03183-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2019] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Ultrasound scanning during the 2nd or the 3rd trimester of pregnancy for fetal size disturbances screening is heavily dependent of the choice of the reference chart. This study aimed to assess the agreement of Salomon and the Intergrowth 21st equations in evaluating fetal biometric measurements in a rural area of Burkina Faso, and to measure the effect of changing a reference chart. Methods Data collected in Nazoanga, Burkina Faso, between October 2010 and October 2012, during a clinical trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of several antimalarial treatments in pregnant women were analyzed. We included singleton pregnancies at 16–36 weeks gestation as determined by ultrasound measurements of fetal bi-parietal diameter (BPD), head circumference (HC), abdominal circumference (AC) and femur length (FL). Expected mean and standard deviation at a given gestational age was computed using equations from Salomon references and using Intergrowth 21st standard. Then, z-scores were calculated and used subsequently to compare Salomon references with Intergrowth 21st standards. Results The analysis included 276 singleton pregnancies. Agreement was poor except for HC: mean difference − 0.01, limits of agreement − 0.60 and 0.59. When AC was used as a surrogate of fetal size, switching from the reference of Salomon to the standards of Intergrowth 21st increased ten times the proportion of fetuses above the 90th percentile: 2.9 and 31.2%, respectively. Mean differences were larger in the third trimester than in the second trimester. However, agreement remained good for HC in both trimesters. Difference in the proportion of AC measurements above the 90th percentile using Salomon and Intergrowth 21st equations was greater in the second trimester (2.6 and 36.3%, respectively) than in the third trimester (3.5 and 19.8%, respectively). The greatest difference between the two charts was observed in the number of FL measurements classified as large in the second trimester (6.8 and 54.2%, using Salomon and Intergrowth 21st equations, respectively). Conclusion The agreement between Intergrowth 21st and Salomon equations is poor apart from HC. This would imply different clinical decision regarding the management of the pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Biébo Bihoun
- IRSS-Clinical Research Unit of Nanoro, Nanoro, Burkina Faso. .,Intitut de recherche expérimentale et clinique, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Serge Henri Zango
- IRSS-Clinical Research Unit of Nanoro, Nanoro, Burkina Faso.,Intitut de recherche expérimentale et clinique, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | | | - Innocent Valea
- IRSS-Clinical Research Unit of Nanoro, Nanoro, Burkina Faso
| | | | | | - Umberto D'Alessandro
- Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Halidou Tinto
- IRSS-Clinical Research Unit of Nanoro, Nanoro, Burkina Faso
| | - Annie Robert
- Intitut de recherche expérimentale et clinique, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
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13
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Hjort L, Lykke Møller S, Minja D, Msemo O, Nielsen BB, Lund Christensen D, Theander T, Nielsen K, Larsen LG, Grunnet LG, Groop L, Prasad R, Lusingu J, Schmiegelow C, Bygbjerg IC. FOETAL for NCD-FOetal Exposure and Epidemiological Transitions: the role of Anaemia in early Life for Non-Communicable Diseases in later life: a prospective preconception study in rural Tanzania. BMJ Open 2019; 9:e024861. [PMID: 31122967 PMCID: PMC6537995 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-024861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Low-income and middle-income countries such as Tanzania experience a high prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including anaemia. Studying if and how anaemia affects growth, placenta development, epigenetic patterns and newborns' risk of NCDs may provide approaches to prevent NCDs. PARTICIPANTS The FOETALforNCD (FOetal Exposure and Epidemiological Transitions: the role of Anaemia in early Life for Non-Communicable Diseases in later life) Study is a population-based preconception, pregnancy and birth cohort study (n=1415, n=538, n=427, respectively), conducted in a rural region of North-East Tanzania. All participants were recruited prior to conception or early in pregnancy and followed throughout pregnancy as well as at birth. Data collection included: maternal blood, screening for NCDs and malaria, ultrasound in each trimester, neonatal anthropometry at birth and at 1 month of age, cord blood, placental and cord biopsies for stereology and epigenetic analyses. FINDINGS TO DATE At preconception, the average age, body mass index and blood pressure of the women were 28 years, 23 kg/m2 and 117/75 mm Hg, respectively. In total, 458 (36.7%) women had anaemia (haemoglobin Hb <12 g/dL) and 34 (3.6%) women were HIV-positive at preconception. During pregnancy 359 (66.7%) women had anaemia of which 85 (15.8%) women had moderate-to-severe anaemia (Hb ≤9 g/dL) and 33 (6.1%) women had severe anaemia (Hb ≤8 g/dL). In total, 185 (34.4%) women were diagnosed with malaria during pregnancy. FUTURE PLANS The project will provide new knowledge on how health, even before conception, might modify the risk of developing NCDs and how to promote better health during pregnancy. The present project ended data collection 1 month after giving birth, but follow-up is continuing through regular monitoring of growth and development and health events according to the National Road Map Strategic Plan in Tanzania. This data will link fetal adverse event to childhood development, and depending on further grant allocation, through a life course follow-up.
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Affiliation(s)
- Line Hjort
- Department of Endocrinology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Sofie Lykke Møller
- Section of Global Health, Departmentof Public Health, Copenhagen University, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Daniel Minja
- National Institute for Medical Research, Tanga Research centre, Tanga, United Republic of Tanzania
| | - Omari Msemo
- National Institute for Medical Research, Tanga Research centre, Tanga, United Republic of Tanzania
| | | | - Dirk Lund Christensen
- Section of Global Health, Departmentof Public Health, Copenhagen University, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Thor Theander
- Center for Medical Parasitology, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Copenhagen University, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Karsten Nielsen
- Department of Histopathology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | | | - Louise Groth Grunnet
- Department of Endocrinology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Section of Global Health, Departmentof Public Health, Copenhagen University, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Leif Groop
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Clinical Research Centre, Lunds Universitet, Lund, Sweden
- Finnish Institute of Molecular Medicine, Helsinki University, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Rashmi Prasad
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Clinical Research Centre, Lunds Universitet, Lund, Sweden
| | - John Lusingu
- National Institute for Medical Research, Tanga Research centre, Tanga, United Republic of Tanzania
- Center for Medical Parasitology, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Copenhagen University, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Christentze Schmiegelow
- Center for Medical Parasitology, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Copenhagen University, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ib C Bygbjerg
- Section of Global Health, Departmentof Public Health, Copenhagen University, Copenhagen, Denmark
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14
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Clark RL. Genesis of placental sequestration in malaria and possible targets for drugs for placental malaria. Birth Defects Res 2019; 111:569-583. [PMID: 30919596 PMCID: PMC7432169 DOI: 10.1002/bdr2.1496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2019] [Revised: 03/05/2019] [Accepted: 03/06/2019] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Malaria during pregnancy results in intrauterine growth restriction, fetal anemia, and infant mortality. Women are more susceptible to malaria during pregnancy due to malaria‐induced inflammation and the sequestration of infected red blood cells in the placenta, which bind to the chondroitin sulfate portion of syndecan‐1 on the syncytiotrophoblast and in the intervillous space. Syndecan‐1 is a dimeric proteoglycan with an extracellular ectodomain that is cleaved from the transmembrane domain (referred to as “shedding”) by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), likely the secreted MMP‐9. The ectodomain includes four binding sites for chondroitin sulfate, which are proximal to the transmembrane domain, and six distal binding sites primarily for heparan sulfate. This “shedding” of syndecan‐1 is inhibited by the presence of the heparan sulfate chains, which can be removed by heparanase. The intervillous space contains fibrin strands and syndecan‐1 ectodomains free of heparan sulfate. The following is proposed as the sequence of events that leads to and is primarily responsible for sequestration in the intervillous space of the placenta. Inflammation associated with malaria triggers increased heparanase activity that degrades the heparan sulfate on the membrane‐bound syndecan‐1. Inflammation also upregulates MMP‐9 and the removal of heparan sulfate gives MMP‐9 access to cleave syndecan‐1, thereby releasing dimeric syndecan‐1 ectodomains with at least four chondroitin sulfate chains attached. These multivalent ectodomains bind infected RBCs together leading to their aggregation and entrapment in intervillous fibrin. This mechanism suggests possible new targets for anti‐placental malaria drugs such as the inhibition of MMP‐9. Doxycycline is an antimalarial drug which inhibits MMP‐9.
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15
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Unger H, Thriemer K, Ley B, Tinto H, Traoré M, Valea I, Tagbor H, Antwi G, Gbekor P, Nambozi M, Kabuya JBB, Mulenga M, Mwapasa V, Chapotera G, Madanitsa M, Rulisa S, de Crop M, Claeys Y, Ravinetto R, D’Alessandro U. The assessment of gestational age: a comparison of different methods from a malaria pregnancy cohort in sub-Saharan Africa. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2019; 19:12. [PMID: 30621604 PMCID: PMC6323786 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-018-2128-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2017] [Accepted: 11/29/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Determining gestational age in resource-poor settings is challenging because of limited availability of ultrasound technology and late first presentation to antenatal clinic. Last menstrual period (LMP), symphysio-pubis fundal height (SFH) and Ballard Score (BS) at delivery are therefore often used. We assessed the accuracy of LMP, SFH, and BS to estimate gestational age at delivery and preterm birth compared to ultrasound (US) using a large dataset derived from a randomized controlled trial in pregnant malaria patients in four African countries. METHODS Mean and median gestational age for US, LMP, SFH and BS were calculated for the entire study population and stratified by country. Correlation coefficients were calculated using Pearson's rho, and Bland Altman plots were used to calculate mean differences in findings with 95% limit of agreements. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were calculated considering US as reference method to identify term and preterm babies. RESULTS A total of 1630 women with P. falciparum infection and a gestational age > 24 weeks determined by ultrasound at enrolment were included in the analysis. The mean gestational age at delivery using US was 38.7 weeks (95%CI: 38.6-38.8), by LMP, 38.4 weeks (95%CI: 38.0-38.9), by SFH, 38.3 weeks (95%CI: 38.2-38.5), and by BS 38.0 weeks (95%CI: 37.9-38.1) (p < 0.001). Correlation between US and any of the other three methods was poor to moderate. Sensitivity and specificity to determine prematurity were 0.63 (95%CI 0.50-0.75) and 0.72 (95%CI, 0.66-0.76) for LMP, 0.80 (95%CI 0.74-0.85) and 0.74 (95%CI 0.72-0.76) for SFH and 0.42 (95%CI 0.35-0.49) and 0.77 (95%CI 0.74-0.79) for BS. CONCLUSIONS In settings with limited access to ultrasound, and in women who had been treated with P. falciparum malaria, SFH may be the most useful antenatal tool to date a pregnancy when women present first in second and third trimester. The Ballard postnatal maturation assessment has a limited role and lacks precision. Improving ultrasound facilities and skills, and early attendance, together with the development of new technologies such as automated image analysis and new postnatal methods to assess gestational age, are essential for the study and management of preterm birth in low-income settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Holger Unger
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Simpson Centre for Reproductive Health, Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh, UK
- Department of Medicine at the Doherty Institute, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Kamala Thriemer
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
- Menzies School of Health Research, Darwin, Australia
| | - Benedikt Ley
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
- Menzies School of Health Research, Darwin, Australia
| | - Halidou Tinto
- Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé - Clinical Trial Unit of Nanoro (IRSS-CRUN), Nanoro, Burkina Faso
| | - Maminata Traoré
- Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé - Clinical Trial Unit of Nanoro (IRSS-CRUN), Nanoro, Burkina Faso
| | - Innocent Valea
- Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé - Clinical Trial Unit of Nanoro (IRSS-CRUN), Nanoro, Burkina Faso
| | - Harry Tagbor
- School of Medicine, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Hohoe, Ghana
| | - Gifty Antwi
- School of Medicine, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Hohoe, Ghana
| | | | | | | | | | - Victor Mwapasa
- Department of Public Health, College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi
| | | | | | - Stephen Rulisa
- University of Rwanda, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Kigali, Rwanda
| | | | - Yves Claeys
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | | | - Umberto D’Alessandro
- MRC Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
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16
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McGready R, Paw MK, Wiladphaingern J, Min AM, Carrara VI, Moore KA, Pukrittayakamee S, Nosten FH. The overlap between miscarriage and extreme preterm birth in a limited-resource setting on the Thailand-Myanmar border: a population cohort study. Wellcome Open Res 2018; 1:32. [PMID: 30607368 DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.10352.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background : No universal demarcation of gestational age distinguishes miscarriage and stillbirth or extreme preterm birth (exPTB). This study provides a synopsis of outcome between 22 to <28 weeks gestation from a low resource setting. Methods : A retrospective record review of a population on the Thailand-Myanmar border was conducted. Outcomes were classified as miscarriage, late expulsion of products between 22 to < 28 weeks gestation with evidence of non-viability (mostly ultrasound absent fetal heart beat) prior to 22 weeks; or exPTB (stillbirth/live born) between 22 to < 28 weeks gestation when the fetus was viable at ≥22 weeks. Termination of pregnancy and gestational trophoblastic disease were excluded. Results : From 1995-2015, 80.9% (50,046/ 61,829) of registered women had a known pregnancy outcome, of whom 99.8% (49,931) had a known gestational age. Delivery between 22 to <28 weeks gestation included 0.9% (472/49,931) of pregnancies after removing 18 cases (3.8%) who met an exclusion criteria. Most pregnancies had an ultrasound: 72.5% (n=329/454); 43.6% (n=197) were classified as miscarriage and 56.4% (n=257) exPTB. Individual record review of miscarriages estimated that fetal death had occurred at a median of 16 weeks, despite late expulsion between 22 to <28 weeks. With available data (n=252, 5 missing) the proportion of stillbirth was 47.6% (n=120), congenital abnormality 10.5% (24/228, 29 missing) and neonatal death was 98.5% (128/131, 1 missing). Introduction of ultrasound was associated with a 2-times higher odds of classification of outcome as exPTB rather than miscarriage. Conclusion : In this low resource setting few (<1%) pregnancy outcomes occurred in the 22 to <28 weeks gestational window; four in ten were miscarriage (late expulsion) and neonatal mortality approached 100%. In the scale-up to preventable newborns deaths (at least initially) greater benefits will be obtained by focusing on the viable newborns of ≥ 28 weeks gestation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rose McGready
- Shoklo Malaria Research Unit, Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Mahidol University, Mae Sot, Thailand.,Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global health, Nuffield Department of Medicine Research Building, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Moo Kho Paw
- Shoklo Malaria Research Unit, Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Mahidol University, Mae Sot, Thailand
| | - Jacher Wiladphaingern
- Shoklo Malaria Research Unit, Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Mahidol University, Mae Sot, Thailand
| | - Aung Myat Min
- Shoklo Malaria Research Unit, Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Mahidol University, Mae Sot, Thailand
| | - Verena I Carrara
- Shoklo Malaria Research Unit, Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Mahidol University, Mae Sot, Thailand.,Department of Medicine, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4002 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Kerryn A Moore
- Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.,Macfarlane Burnet Institute for Medical Research and Public Health, Melbourne, Australia
| | | | - François H Nosten
- Shoklo Malaria Research Unit, Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Mahidol University, Mae Sot, Thailand.,Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global health, Nuffield Department of Medicine Research Building, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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17
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Easter SR, Eckert LO, Boghossian N, Spencer R, Oteng-Ntim E, Ioannou C, Patwardhan M, Harrison MS, Khalil A, Gravett M, Goldenberg R, McKelvey A, Gupta M, Pool V, Robson SC, Joshi J, Kochhar S, McElrath T. Fetal growth restriction: Case definition & guidelines for data collection, analysis, and presentation of immunization safety data. Vaccine 2018; 35:6546-6554. [PMID: 29150060 PMCID: PMC5710982 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2017.01.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2016] [Accepted: 01/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Rae Easter
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Linda O Eckert
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Nansi Boghossian
- Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Rebecca Spencer
- Consultant in Obstetrics, Institute for Women's Health, University College London, UK
| | | | - Christos Ioannou
- Consultant in Obstetrics and Fetal Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Manasi Patwardhan
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Margo S Harrison
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Asma Khalil
- Consultant in Obstetrics and Subspecialist in Fetal Medicine, St George's University of London, London, UK
| | - Michael Gravett
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Robert Goldenberg
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Alastair McKelvey
- Consultant in Obstetrics and Fetal Medicine, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, Norwich, UK
| | - Manish Gupta
- Consultant Obstetrician, Subspecialist in Maternal and Fetal Medicine, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Vitali Pool
- Director of Scientific and Medical Affairs, Sanofi Pasteur, Swiftwater, PA, USA
| | - Stephen C Robson
- Professor of Fetal Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Jyoti Joshi
- Deputy Director of Immunization Technical Support Unit, Public Health Fund of India, New Delhi, India
| | - Sonali Kochhar
- Global Healthcare Consulting, New Delhi, India; Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Tom McElrath
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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18
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Rogerson SJ, Desai M, Mayor A, Sicuri E, Taylor SM, van Eijk AM. Burden, pathology, and costs of malaria in pregnancy: new developments for an old problem. THE LANCET. INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2018; 18:e107-e118. [PMID: 29396010 DOI: 10.1016/s1473-3099(18)30066-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 164] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2016] [Revised: 08/07/2017] [Accepted: 10/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Over the past 10 years, knowledge of the burden, economic costs, and consequences of malaria in pregnancy has improved, and the prevalence of malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum has declined substantially in some geographical areas. In particular, studies outside of Africa have increased the evidence base of Plasmodium vivax in pregnancy. Rapid diagnostic tests have been poor at detecting malaria in pregnant women, while PCR has shown a high prevalence of low density infection, the clinical importance of which is unknown. Erythrocytes infected with P falciparum that express the surface protein VAR2CSA accumulate in the placenta, and VAR2CSA is an important target of protective immunity. Clinical trials for a VAR2CSA vaccine are ongoing, but sequence variation needs to be carefully studied. Health system and household costs still limit access to prevention and treatment services. Within the context of malaria elimination, pregnant women could be used to monitor malaria transmission. This Series paper summarises recent progress and highlights unresolved issues related to the burden of malaria in pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen J Rogerson
- Department of Medicine at the Doherty Institute, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
| | - Meghna Desai
- Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Alfredo Mayor
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Centre for International Health Research (CRESIB), Hospital Clínic, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigação em Saúde da Manhiça (CISM), Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Elisa Sicuri
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Centre for International Health Research (CRESIB), Hospital Clínic, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Health Economics Group, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Imperial College, London, UK
| | - Steve M Taylor
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Anna M van Eijk
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
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19
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Saito M, Gilder ME, Nosten F, Guérin PJ, McGready R. Methodology of assessment and reporting of safety in anti-malarial treatment efficacy studies of uncomplicated falciparum malaria in pregnancy: a systematic literature review. Malar J 2017; 16:491. [PMID: 29254487 PMCID: PMC5735519 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-017-2136-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2017] [Accepted: 12/05/2017] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Considering the uncertainty of safety of anti-malarial drugs in pregnancy, efficacy studies are one of the few sources of clinical safety data. Complete safety evaluation is not usually incorporated in efficacy studies due to financial and human resource constraints. This review reports the methods used for the assessment of safety of artemisinin-based and quinine-based treatments in efficacy studies in pregnancy. Methods Methodology of assessment and reporting of safety in efficacy studies of artemisinin-based and quinine-based treatment in pregnancy was reviewed using seven databases and two clinical trial registries. The protocol was registered to PROSPERO (CRD42017054808). Results Of 48 eligible efficacy studies the method of estimation of gestational age was reported in only 32 studies (67%, 32/48) and ultrasound was used in 18 studies (38%, 18/48). Seventeen studies (35%, 17/48) reported parity, 9 (19%, 9/48) reported gravidity and 13 (27%, 13/48) reported both. Thirty-eight studies (79%, 38/48) followed participants through to pregnancy outcome. Fetal loss was assessed in 34 studies (89%, 34/38), but the definition of miscarriage and stillbirth were defined only in 11 (32%, 11/34) and 7 (21%, 7/34) studies, respectively. Preterm birth was assessed in 26 studies (68%, 26/38) but was defined in 16 studies (62%, 16/26). Newborn weight was assessed in 30 studies (79%, 30/38) and length in 10 studies (26%, 10/38). Assessment of birth weight took gestational age into account in four studies (13%, 4/30). Congenital abnormalities were reported in 32 studies (84%, 32/38). Other common risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcomes were not well-reported. Conclusion Incomplete reporting and varied methodological assessment of pregnancy outcomes in anti-malarial drug efficacy studies limits comparison across studies. A standard list of minimal necessary parameters to assess and report the safety component of efficacy studies of anti-malarials in pregnancy is proposed. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12936-017-2136-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Makoto Saito
- WorldWide Antimalarial Resistance Network (WWARN), Oxford, UK. .,Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, OX3 7FZ, UK. .,Shoklo Malaria Research Unit (SMRU), Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Mae Sot, Tak, Thailand.
| | - Mary Ellen Gilder
- Shoklo Malaria Research Unit (SMRU), Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Mae Sot, Tak, Thailand
| | - François Nosten
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, OX3 7FZ, UK.,Shoklo Malaria Research Unit (SMRU), Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Mae Sot, Tak, Thailand
| | - Philippe J Guérin
- WorldWide Antimalarial Resistance Network (WWARN), Oxford, UK.,Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, OX3 7FZ, UK
| | - Rose McGready
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, OX3 7FZ, UK.,Shoklo Malaria Research Unit (SMRU), Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Mae Sot, Tak, Thailand
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20
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Niikura M, Inoue S, Mineo S, Asahi H, Kobayashi F. IFNGR1 signaling is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes during infection with malaria parasites. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0185392. [PMID: 29117241 PMCID: PMC5678718 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0185392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2017] [Accepted: 09/12/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Complicated/severe cases of placental pathology due to Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax, especially adverse pregnancy outcomes during P. vivax infection, have been increasing in recent years. However, the pathogenesis of placental pathology during severe malaria is poorly understood, while responses against IFN-γ are thought to be associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. In the present study, we explored the role of IFN-γ receptor 1 (IFNGR1) signaling in placental pathology during severe malaria using luciferase-expressing rodent malaria parasites, P. berghei NK65 (PbNK65L). We detected luciferase activities in the lung, spleen, adipose tissue, and placenta in pregnant mice, suggesting that infected erythrocytes could accumulate in various organs during infection. Importantly, we found that fetal mortality in IFNGR1-deficient mice infected with PbNK65L parasites was much less than in infected wild type (WT) mice. Placental pathology was also improved in IFNGR1-deficient mice. In contrast, bioluminescence imaging showed that parasite accumulation in the placentas of IFNGR1-deficient pregnant mice was comparable to that in WT mice infected with PbNK65L. These findings suggest that IFNGR1 signaling plays a pivotal role in placental pathology and subsequent adverse pregnancy outcomes during severe malaria. Our findings may increase our understanding of how disease aggravation occurs during malaria during pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mamoru Niikura
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Kyorin University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shin–Ichi Inoue
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Kyorin University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shoichiro Mineo
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroko Asahi
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Kyorin University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Fumie Kobayashi
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Kyorin University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
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21
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Kapisi J, Kakuru A, Jagannathan P, Muhindo MK, Natureeba P, Awori P, Nakalembe M, Ssekitoleko R, Olwoch P, Ategeka J, Nayebare P, Clark TD, Rizzuto G, Muehlenbachs A, Havlir DV, Kamya MR, Dorsey G, Gaw SL. Relationships between infection with Plasmodium falciparum during pregnancy, measures of placental malaria, and adverse birth outcomes. Malar J 2017; 16:400. [PMID: 28982374 PMCID: PMC5629777 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-017-2040-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2017] [Accepted: 09/21/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Malaria in pregnancy has been associated with maternal morbidity, placental malaria, and adverse birth outcomes. However, data are limited on the relationships between longitudinal measures of malaria during pregnancy, measures of placental malaria, and birth outcomes. Methods This is a nested observational study of data from a randomized controlled trial of intermittent preventive therapy during pregnancy among 282 participants with assessment of placental malaria and delivery outcomes. HIV-uninfected pregnant women were enrolled at 12–20 weeks of gestation. Symptomatic malaria during pregnancy was measured using passive surveillance and monthly detection of asymptomatic parasitaemia using loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP). Placental malaria was defined as either the presence of parasites in placental blood by microscopy, detection of parasites in placental blood by LAMP, or histopathologic evidence of parasites or pigment. Adverse birth outcomes assessed included low birth weight (LBW), preterm birth (PTB), and small for gestational age (SGA) infants. Results The 282 women were divided into three groups representing increasing malaria burden during pregnancy. Fifty-two (18.4%) had no episodes of symptomatic malaria or asymptomatic parasitaemia during the pregnancy, 157 (55.7%) had low malaria burden (0–1 episodes of symptomatic malaria and < 50% of samples LAMP+), and 73 (25.9%) had high malaria burden during pregnancy (≥ 2 episodes of symptomatic malaria or ≥ 50% of samples LAMP+). Women with high malaria burden had increased risks of placental malaria by blood microscopy and LAMP [aRR 14.2 (1.80–111.6) and 4.06 (1.73–9.51), respectively], compared to the other two groups combined. Compared with women with no malaria exposure during pregnancy, the risk of placental malaria by histopathology was higher among low and high burden groups [aRR = 3.27 (1.32–8.12) and aRR = 7.07 (2.84–17.6), respectively]. Detection of placental parasites by any method was significantly associated with PTB [aRR 5.64 (1.46–21.8)], and with a trend towards increased risk for LBW and SGA irrespective of the level of malaria burden during pregnancy. Conclusion Higher malaria burden during pregnancy was associated with placental malaria and together with the detection of parasites in the placenta were associated with increased risk for adverse birth outcomes. Trial Registration Current Controlled Trials Identifier NCT02163447 Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12936-017-2040-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Kapisi
- School of Medicine, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda.
| | - Abel Kakuru
- Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Prasanna Jagannathan
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographical Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Mary K Muhindo
- Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Paul Natureeba
- Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Patricia Awori
- Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Miriam Nakalembe
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Richard Ssekitoleko
- School of Medicine, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Peter Olwoch
- Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda
| | - John Ategeka
- Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda
| | | | - Tamara D Clark
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Gabrielle Rizzuto
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Atis Muehlenbachs
- Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Diane V Havlir
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Moses R Kamya
- School of Medicine, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Grant Dorsey
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Stephanie L Gaw
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
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22
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Carmona-Fonseca J, Agudelo OM, Arango EM. Asymptomatic plasmodial infection in Colombian pregnant women. Acta Trop 2017; 172:97-101. [PMID: 28460834 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2017.04.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2016] [Revised: 04/06/2017] [Accepted: 04/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Information about asymptomatic plasmodial infection is scarce in the world, and the current antimalarial program goals (control, elimination, and eradication) demand this evidence to be well documented in different populations and malaria transmission settings. This study aimed to measure the prevalence of API in Colombian pregnant women at delivery. A retrospective prevalence survey was used. Women were recruited at hospital obstetric facility in each of the municipalities of Turbo, Necoclí in Antioquia department, and Puerto Libertador in Córdoba department. Malaria infection was tested by thick blood smear (TBS) and real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR). Ninety-six pregnant women at delivery were studied: 95% were asymptomatic (91/96), 45% had asymptomatic plasmodial infection (API) by qPCR (41/91), and only 8% (7/91) had API by microscopy. The prevalence of submicroscopic infections (TBS negative and qPCR positive) was very high, 37% (34/91) in asymptomatic women and 41% (39/96) in total women studied (91 asymptomatic and 5 symptomatic). The prevalence of API in Colombian pregnant women is much higher than which is expected for a country that does not have the level of malaria transmission as Sub-Saharan African countries.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Olga M Agudelo
- Grupo Salud y Comunidad-César Uribe Piedrahíta, Universidad de Antioquia, Colombia
| | - Eliana M Arango
- Grupo Salud y Comunidad-César Uribe Piedrahíta, Universidad de Antioquia, Colombia.
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23
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Moore KA, Simpson JA, Wiladphaingern J, Min AM, Pimanpanarak M, Paw MK, Raksuansak J, Pukrittayakamee S, Fowkes FJI, White NJ, Nosten F, McGready R. Influence of the number and timing of malaria episodes during pregnancy on prematurity and small-for-gestational-age in an area of low transmission. BMC Med 2017; 15:117. [PMID: 28633672 PMCID: PMC5479010 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-017-0877-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Most evidence on the association between malaria in pregnancy and adverse pregnancy outcomes focuses on falciparum malaria detected at birth. We assessed the association between the number and timing of falciparum and vivax malaria episodes during pregnancy on small-for-gestational-age (SGA) and preterm birth. METHODS We analysed observational data collected from antenatal clinics on the Thailand-Myanmar border (1986-2015). We assessed the effects of the total number of malaria episodes in pregnancy on SGA and the effects of malaria in pregnancy on SGA, very preterm birth, and late preterm birth, by the gestational age at malaria detection and treatment using logistic regression models with time-dependent malaria variables (monthly intervals). World Health Organisation definitions of very preterm birth (≥28 and <32 weeks) and late preterm birth (≥32 and <37 weeks) and international SGA standards were used. RESULTS Of 50,060 pregnant women followed, 8221 (16%) had malaria during their pregnancy. Of the 50,060 newborns, 10,005 (21%) were SGA, 540 (1%) were very preterm, and 4331 (9%) were late preterm. The rates of falciparum and vivax malaria were highest at 6 and 5 weeks' gestation, respectively. The odds of SGA increased linearly by 1.13-fold (95% confidence interval: 1.09, 1.17) and 1.27-fold (1.21, 1.33) per episode of falciparum and vivax malaria, respectively. Falciparum malaria at any gestation period after 12-16 weeks and vivax malaria after 20-24 weeks were associated with SGA (falciparum odds ratio, OR range: 1.15-1.63 [p range: <0.001-0.094]; vivax OR range: 1.12-1.54 [p range: <0.001-0.138]). Falciparum malaria at any gestation period after 24-28 weeks was associated with either very or late preterm birth (OR range: 1.44-2.53; p range: <0.001-0.001). Vivax malaria at 24-28 weeks was associated with very preterm birth (OR: 1.79 [1.11, 2.90]), and vivax malaria at 28-32 weeks was associated with late preterm birth (OR: 1.23 [1.01, 1.50]). Many of these associations held for asymptomatic malaria. CONCLUSIONS Protection against malaria should be started as early as possible in pregnancy. Malaria control and elimination efforts in the general population can avert the adverse consequences associated with treated asymptomatic malaria in pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kerryn A Moore
- Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia. .,Macfarlane Burnet Institute for Medical Research and Public Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
| | - Julie A Simpson
- Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Jacher Wiladphaingern
- Shoklo Malaria Research Unit, Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Mae Sot, Thailand
| | - Aung Myat Min
- Shoklo Malaria Research Unit, Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Mae Sot, Thailand
| | - Mupawjay Pimanpanarak
- Shoklo Malaria Research Unit, Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Mae Sot, Thailand
| | - Moo Kho Paw
- Shoklo Malaria Research Unit, Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Mae Sot, Thailand
| | - Jathee Raksuansak
- Shoklo Malaria Research Unit, Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Mae Sot, Thailand
| | - Sasithon Pukrittayakamee
- Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Freya J I Fowkes
- Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Macfarlane Burnet Institute for Medical Research and Public Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine and Department of Infectious Diseases, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Nicholas J White
- Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.,Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - François Nosten
- 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
| | - 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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Rempis EM, Schnack A, Decker S, Braun V, Rubaihayo J, Tumwesigye NM, Busingye P, Harms G, Theuring S. Option B+ for prevention of vertical HIV transmission has no influence on adverse birth outcomes in a cross-sectional cohort in Western Uganda. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2017; 17:82. [PMID: 28270119 PMCID: PMC5341453 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-017-1263-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2016] [Accepted: 02/28/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND While most Sub-Saharan African countries are now implementing the WHO-recommended Option B+ protocol for prevention of vertical HIV transmission, there is a lack of knowledge regarding the influence of Option B+ exposure on adverse birth outcomes (ABOs). Against this background, we assessed ABOs among delivering women in Western Uganda. METHODS A cross-sectional, observational study was performed within a cohort of 412 mother-newborn-pairs in Virika Hospital, Fort Portal in 2013. The occurrence of stillbirth, pre-term delivery, and small size for gestational age (SGA) was analysed, looking for influencing factors related to HIV-status, antiretroviral drug exposure and duration, and other sociodemographic and clinical parameters. RESULTS Among 302 HIV-negative and 110 HIV-positive women, ABOs occurred in 40.5%, with stillbirth in 6.3%, pre-term delivery in 28.6%, and SGA in 12.2% of deliveries. For Option B+ intake (n = 59), no significant association was found with stillbirth (OR 0.48, p = 0.55), pre-term delivery (OR 0.97, p = 0.92) and SGA (OR 1.5, p = 0.3) compared to seronegative women. Women enrolled on antiretroviral therapy (ART) before conception (n = 38) had no different risk for ABOs than women on Option B+ or HIV-negative women. Identified risk factors for stillbirth included lack of formal education, poor socio-economic status, long travel distance, hypertension and anaemia. Pre-term delivery risk was increased with poor socio-economic status, primiparity, Malaria and anaemia. The occurrence of SGA was influenced by older age and Malaria. CONCLUSION In our study, women on Option B+ showed no difference in ABOs compared to HIV-negative women and to women on ART. We identified several non-HIV/ART-related influencing factors, suggesting an urgent need for improving early risk assessment mechanisms in antenatal care through better screening and triage systems. Our results are encouraging with regard to continued universal scale-up of Option B+ and ART programmes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva M. Rempis
- Institute of Tropical Medicine and International Health, Charité- University Medicine, Augustenburger Platz 1, Berlin, 13353 Germany
| | - Alexandra Schnack
- Institute of Tropical Medicine and International Health, Charité- University Medicine, Augustenburger Platz 1, Berlin, 13353 Germany
| | - Sarah Decker
- Institute of Tropical Medicine and International Health, Charité- University Medicine, Augustenburger Platz 1, Berlin, 13353 Germany
| | - Vera Braun
- Institute of Tropical Medicine and International Health, Charité- University Medicine, Augustenburger Platz 1, Berlin, 13353 Germany
| | - John Rubaihayo
- Department of Public Health, Mountains of the Moon University, Fort Portal, Kabarole Uganda
| | | | | | - Gundel Harms
- Institute of Tropical Medicine and International Health, Charité- University Medicine, Augustenburger Platz 1, Berlin, 13353 Germany
| | - Stefanie Theuring
- Institute of Tropical Medicine and International Health, Charité- University Medicine, Augustenburger Platz 1, Berlin, 13353 Germany
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25
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DeVore GR. Computing the Z Score and Centiles for Cross-sectional Analysis: A Practical Approach. JOURNAL OF ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE : OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE 2017; 36:459-473. [PMID: 28093799 DOI: 10.7863/ultra.16.03025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2016] [Accepted: 05/30/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Although Z scores have been reported in the literature, one of the problems for the nonstatistician is understanding the systematic approach used to compute the predicted mean and standard deviation, components of the Z score equation, which may vary as the independent variable changes over time (eg, gestational age). This review focuses on a step-by-step analysis using linear, quadratic, and fractional polynomials to compute the mean and standard deviation as a function of a continuous independent variable. Once the mean and standard deviation are computed, the Z score and centile can be derived and Z score calculators created that enable investigators to implement the results in the laboratory and/or clinical setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Greggory R DeVore
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Fetal Diagnostic Centers, Pasadena, Tarzana, and Lancaster, California, USA
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26
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Briand V, Le Hesran JY, Mayxay M, Newton PN, Bertin G, Houzé S, Keomany S, Inthavong Y, Vannavong N, Chindavongsa K, Hongvanthong B, Fievet N. Prevalence of malaria in pregnancy in southern Laos: a cross-sectional survey. Malar J 2016; 15:436. [PMID: 27566274 PMCID: PMC5002160 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-016-1492-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2016] [Accepted: 08/16/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background There are no data on the burden of malaria in pregnancy (MiP) in Laos, where malaria still remains prevalent in the south. Methods Two cross-sectional surveys were conducted in 2014 to assess the prevalence of MiP in Vapi District, Salavan Province, southern Laos: the first consisted of screening 204 pregnant women during pregnancies [mean (95 % CI) gestational age: 23 (22–25) weeks] living in 30 randomly selected villages in Vapi District; the second was conducted among 331 pregnant women, who delivered during the study period in Vapi and Toumlane District Hospitals and in Salavan Provincial Hospital. Peripheral and placental malaria was detected using rapid diagnostic tests (RDT), thick blood smears (TBS) and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reactions (RT-qPCR). Factors associated with low birth weight (LBW) and maternal anaemia were assessed. Results In the villages, 12/204 women (5.9 %; 95 % CI 3.1–10.0) were infected with malaria as determined by RT-qPCR: 11 were Plasmodium vivax infections and 1 was mixed Plasmodium vivax/Plasmodium falciparum infection, among which 9 were sub-microscopic (as not detected by TBS). History of malaria during current pregnancy tended to be associated with a higher risk of MiP (aIRR 3.05; 95 % CI 0.94–9.88). At delivery, two Plasmodium falciparum sub-microscopic infections (one peripheral and one placental) were detected (4.5 %; 0.6–15.5) in Vapi District. In both surveys, all infected women stated they had slept under a bed net the night before the survey, and 86 % went to the forest for food-finding 1 week before the survey in median. The majority of infections (94 %) were asymptomatic and half of them were associated with anaemia. Overall, 24 % of women had LBW newborns. Factors associated with a higher risk of LBW were tobacco use (aIRR 2.43; 95 % CI 1.64–3.60) and pre-term delivery (aIRR 3.17; 95 % CI 2.19–4.57). Factors associated with a higher risk of maternal anaemia were no iron supplementation during pregnancy, Lao Theung ethnicity and place of living. Conclusions The prevalence of MiP in this population was noticeable. Most infections were asymptomatic and sub-microscopic vivax malaria, which raises the question of reliability of recommended national strategies for the screening and prevention of MiP in Laos. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12936-016-1492-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valérie Briand
- Faculté de Pharmacie, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Mère et enfant face aux infections tropicales (UMR216), 4 avenue de l'Observatoire, 75006, Paris, France. .,COMUE Sorbonne Paris Cité, Faculté de Pharmacie, Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France.
| | - Jean-Yves Le Hesran
- Faculté de Pharmacie, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Mère et enfant face aux infections tropicales (UMR216), 4 avenue de l'Observatoire, 75006, Paris, France.,COMUE Sorbonne Paris Cité, Faculté de Pharmacie, Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France
| | - Mayfong Mayxay
- Lao-Oxford-Mahosot Hospital-Wellcome Trust Research Unit (LOMWRU), Microbiology Laboratory, Vientiane, Lao People's Democratic Republic.,Faculty of Postgraduate Studies, University of Health Sciences, Vientiane, Lao People's Democratic Republic.,Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Paul N Newton
- Lao-Oxford-Mahosot Hospital-Wellcome Trust Research Unit (LOMWRU), Microbiology Laboratory, Vientiane, Lao People's Democratic Republic.,Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Gwladys Bertin
- Faculté de Pharmacie, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Mère et enfant face aux infections tropicales (UMR216), 4 avenue de l'Observatoire, 75006, Paris, France.,COMUE Sorbonne Paris Cité, Faculté de Pharmacie, Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France
| | - Sandrine Houzé
- Faculté de Pharmacie, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Mère et enfant face aux infections tropicales (UMR216), 4 avenue de l'Observatoire, 75006, Paris, France.,COMUE Sorbonne Paris Cité, Faculté de Pharmacie, Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France.,Laboratoire de Parasitologie, CNR du Paludisme, AP-HP, Hôpital Bichat, Paris, France
| | - Sommay Keomany
- Salavan Provincial Hospital, Salavan, Salavan Province, Lao People's Democratic Republic
| | - Yom Inthavong
- Vapi District Hospital, Vapi, Salavan Province, Lao People's Democratic Republic
| | - Nanthasane Vannavong
- Champasack Provincial Health Office, Champasack, Champasack Province, Lao People's Democratic Republic
| | | | - Bouasy Hongvanthong
- Center of Malariology, Parasitology and Entomology, Vientiane, Lao People's Democratic Republic
| | - Nadine Fievet
- Faculté de Pharmacie, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Mère et enfant face aux infections tropicales (UMR216), 4 avenue de l'Observatoire, 75006, Paris, France.,COMUE Sorbonne Paris Cité, Faculté de Pharmacie, Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France
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Heterologous Infection of Pregnant Mice Induces Low Birth Weight and Modifies Offspring Susceptibility to Malaria. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0160120. [PMID: 27467392 PMCID: PMC4965193 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0160120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2016] [Accepted: 07/12/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Pregnancy malaria (PM) is associated with poor pregnancy outcomes, and can arise due to relapse, recrudescence or a re-infection with heterologous parasites. We have used the Plasmodium chabaudi model of pregnancy malaria in C57BL/6 mice to examine recrudescence and heterologous infection using CB and AS parasite strains. After an initial course of patent parasitemia and first recrudescence, CB but not AS parasites were observed to recrudesce again in most animals that became pregnant. Pregnancy exacerbated heterologous CB infection of AS-experienced mice, leading to mortality and impaired post-natal growth of pups. Parasites were detected in placental blood without evidence of sequestration, unlike P. falciparum but similar to other malaria species that infect pregnant women. Inflammatory cytokine levels were elevated in pregnant females during malaria, and associated with intensity of infection and with poor outcomes. Pups born to dams during heterologous infection were more resistant to malaria infections at 6–7 weeks of age, compared to pups born to malaria-experienced but uninfected dams or to malaria-naïve dams. In summary, our mouse model reproduces several features of human PM, including recrudescences, heterologous infections, poor pregnancy outcomes associated with inflammatory cytokines, and modulation of offspring susceptibility to malaria. This model should be further studied to explore mechanisms underlying PM pathogenesis.
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28
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Plasmodium vivax malaria among pregnant women in Eastern Sudan. ASIAN PACIFIC JOURNAL OF TROPICAL DISEASE 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/s2222-1808(15)61058-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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29
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Bednar MM, Hauser BM, Zhou S, Jacobson JM, Eron JJ, Frank I, Swanstrom R. Diversity and Tropism of HIV-1 Rebound Virus Populations in Plasma Level After Treatment Discontinuation. J Infect Dis 2016; 214:403-7. [PMID: 27132284 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiw172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2016] [Accepted: 04/21/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Human immunodeficiency virus-infected people discontinuing therapy experience a rebound in the virus level (hereafter, "rebound virus") from a persistent reservoir. We examined 10 samples from patients in AIDS Clinical Trials Group study A5068 with rebound virus, using single-genome amplification and Primer ID deep sequencing, to assess env genetic diversity of the virus population. Most rebound-virus populations showed significant diversity. All env examined required high levels of CD4 for entry, consistent with selection of replication in CD4(+) T cells. These results indicate that most people discontinuing therapy release a diverse population of virus and that this released virus has entry features of virus selected for replication in CD4(+) T cells, rather than in myeloid cells.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Jeffrey M Jacobson
- Departments of Medicine and Neuroscience Center of Translational AIDS Research, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University
| | | | - Ian Frank
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
| | - Ronald Swanstrom
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
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30
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Briand V, Saal J, Ghafari C, Huynh BT, Fievet N, Schmiegelow C, Massougbodji A, Deloron P, Zeitlin J, Cot M. Fetal Growth Restriction Is Associated With Malaria in Pregnancy: A Prospective Longitudinal Study in Benin. J Infect Dis 2016; 214:417-25. [DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiw158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2016] [Accepted: 04/13/2016] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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31
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Estimating Gestational Age in Late Presenters to Antenatal Care in a Resource-Limited Setting on the Thai-Myanmar Border. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0131025. [PMID: 26114295 PMCID: PMC4482646 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0131025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2015] [Accepted: 05/26/2015] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Estimating gestational age in resource-limited settings is prone to considerable inaccuracy because crown-rump length measured by ultrasound before 14 weeks gestation, the recommended method for estimating gestational age, is often unavailable. Judgements regarding provision of appropriate obstetric and neonatal care are dependent on accurate estimation of gestational age. We determined the accuracy of the Dubowitz Gestational Age Assessment, a population-specific symphysis-fundal height formula, and ultrasound biometry performed between 16 and 40 weeks gestation in estimating gestational age using pre-existing data from antenatal clinics of the Shoklo Malaria Research Unit on the Thai-Myanmar border, where malaria is endemic. Two cohorts of women who gave birth to live singletons were analysed: 1) 250 women who attended antenatal care between July 2001 and May 2006 and had both ultrasound crown-rump length (reference) and a Dubowitz Gestational Age Assessment; 2) 975 women attending antenatal care between April 2007 and October 2010 who had ultrasound crown-rump length, symphysis-fundal measurements, and an additional study ultrasound (biparietal diameter and head circumference) randomly scheduled between 16 and 40 weeks gestation. Mean difference in estimated newborn gestational age between methods and 95% limits of agreement (LOA) were determined from linear mixed-effects models. The Dubowitz method and the symphysis-fundal height formula performed well in term newborns, but overestimated gestational age of preterms by 2.57 weeks (95% LOA: 0.49, 4.65) and 3.94 weeks (95% LOA: 2.50, 5.38), respectively. Biparietal diameter overestimated gestational age by 0.83 weeks (95% LOA: -0.93, 2.58). Head circumference underestimated gestational age by 0.39 weeks (95% LOA: -2.60, 1.82), especially if measured after 24 weeks gestation. The results of this study can be used to quantify biases associated with alternative methods for estimating gestational age in the absence of ultrasound crown-rump length to inform critical clinical judgements in this population, and as a point of reference elsewhere.
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Malaria in Pregnancy Interacts with and Alters the Angiogenic Profiles of the Placenta. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2015; 9:e0003824. [PMID: 26090803 PMCID: PMC4475015 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2015] [Accepted: 05/12/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria in pregnancy remains a substantial public health problem in malaria-endemic areas with detrimental outcomes for both the mother and the foetus. The placental changes that lead to some of these detrimental outcomes have been studied, but the mechanisms that lead to these changes are still not fully elucidated. There is some indication that imbalances in cytokine cascades, complement activation and angiogenic dysregulation might be involved in the placental changes observed. Nevertheless, the majority of studies on malaria in pregnancy (MiP) have come from areas where malaria transmission is high and usually restricted to Plasmodium falciparum, the most pathogenic of the malaria parasite species. We conducted a cross-sectional study in Cruzeiro do Sul, Acre state, Brazil, an area of low transmission and where both P. vivax and P. falciparum circulate. We collected peripheral and placental blood and placental biopsies, at delivery from 137 primigravid women and measured levels of the angiogenic factors angiopoietin (Ang)-1, Ang-2, their receptor Tie-2, and several cytokines and chemokines. We measured 4 placental parameters (placental weight, syncytial knots, placental barrier thickness and mononuclear cells) and associated these with the levels of angiogenic factors and cytokines. In this study, MiP was not associated with severe outcomes. An increased ratio of peripheral Tie-2:Ang-1 was associated with the occurrence of MiP. Both Ang-1 and Ang-2 had similar magnitudes but inverse associations with placental barrier thickness. Malaria in pregnancy is an effect modifier of the association between Ang-1 and placental barrier thickness.
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Karl S, Li Wai Suen CSN, Unger HW, Ome-Kaius M, Mola G, White L, Wangnapi RA, Rogerson SJ, Mueller I. Preterm or not--an evaluation of estimates of gestational age in a cohort of women from Rural Papua New Guinea. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0124286. [PMID: 25945927 PMCID: PMC4422681 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0124286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2014] [Accepted: 03/12/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Knowledge of accurate gestational age is required for comprehensive pregnancy care and is an essential component of research evaluating causes of preterm birth. In industrialised countries gestational age is determined with the help of fetal biometry in early pregnancy. Lack of ultrasound and late presentation to antenatal clinic limits this practice in low-resource settings. Instead, clinical estimators of gestational age are used, but their accuracy remains a matter of debate. METHODS In a cohort of 688 singleton pregnancies from rural Papua New Guinea, delivery gestational age was calculated from Ballard score, last menstrual period, symphysis-pubis fundal height at first visit and quickening as well as mid- and late pregnancy fetal biometry. Published models using sequential fundal height measurements and corrected last menstrual period to estimate gestational age were also tested. Novel linear models that combined clinical measurements for gestational age estimation were developed. Predictions were compared with the reference early pregnancy ultrasound (<25 gestational weeks) using correlation, regression and Bland-Altman analyses and ranked for their capability to predict preterm birth using the harmonic mean of recall and precision (F-measure). RESULTS Average bias between reference ultrasound and clinical methods ranged from 0-11 days (95% confidence levels: 14-42 days). Preterm birth was best predicted by mid-pregnancy ultrasound (F-measure: 0.72), and neuromuscular Ballard score provided the least reliable preterm birth prediction (F-measure: 0.17). The best clinical methods to predict gestational age and preterm birth were last menstrual period and fundal height (F-measures 0.35). A linear model combining both measures improved prediction of preterm birth (F-measure: 0.58). CONCLUSIONS Estimation of gestational age without ultrasound is prone to significant error. In the absence of ultrasound facilities, last menstrual period and fundal height are among the more reliable clinical measures. This study underlines the importance of strengthening ultrasound facilities and developing novel ways to estimate gestational age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephan Karl
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI), Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Connie S. N. Li Wai Suen
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI), Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Holger W. Unger
- Department of Medicine (Royal Melbourne Hospital), The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
- Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research (PNG IMR), Goroka, Papua New Guinea
| | - Maria Ome-Kaius
- Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research (PNG IMR), Goroka, Papua New Guinea
| | - Glen Mola
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Papua New Guinea, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
| | - Lisa White
- Centre for Tropical Medicine, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Regina A. Wangnapi
- Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research (PNG IMR), Goroka, Papua New Guinea
| | - Stephen J. Rogerson
- Department of Medicine (Royal Melbourne Hospital), The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Ivo Mueller
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI), Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain
- * E-mail:
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Brock MF, Miranda AE, Bôtto-Menezes C, Leão JRT, Martinez-Espinosa FE. Ultrasound findings in pregnant women with uncomplicated vivax malaria in the Brazilian Amazon: a cohort study. Malar J 2015; 14:144. [PMID: 25889425 PMCID: PMC4393585 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-015-0627-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2014] [Accepted: 03/01/2015] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background During pregnancy, Plasmodium falciparum-induced malaria can cause placental lesions and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). There are few published studies on Plasmodium vivax-induced malaria in pregnancy. Ultrasound is an efficient method for evaluating foetal biometry and placenta. The present study aimed to investigate the occurrence of increased placental thickness, foetal biometry and the amniotic fluid via ultrasound in a cohort of pregnant women with vivax malaria in Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil. Methods A cohort study was conducted among 118 pregnant women with vivax malaria and 191 pregnant women without malaria. Foetal biometry, placental thicknesses and the amniotic fluid were evaluated via ultrasound. Biometric data were distributed by the trimester in which the infection occurred and converted to Z scores. The results were compared between the groups. Results Among pregnant women from the cohort, increased placental thickness was observed in ten women with malaria (8.5 vs 0%; p <0.001). The Z scores of biometric parameters were not statistically significant when comparing the groups or according to the time of infection. In ultrasound results of the 118 pregnant women with malaria, seven (6%) showed low foetal weight, two (1.7%) showed oligohydramnios and one (0.85%) showed foetal malformation. There was no significant difference when these variables were compared to those of the control group. Conclusions The placental thickness changes were significant but caused no foetal repercussions at birth. The ultrasound findings except placental thickness were similar in both groups, possibly because this is a low-endemic area and the pregnant women in the study were followed up in an active detection system that allowed early diagnosis and treatment of new malaria episodes. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12936-015-0627-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianna F Brock
- Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado, Av Pedro Teixeira 25, 69040-000, Manaus, Amazonas, Brasil. .,Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Av Castelo Branco 1777, Manaus, Amazonas, Brasil.
| | - Angélica E Miranda
- Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado, Av Pedro Teixeira 25, 69040-000, Manaus, Amazonas, Brasil. .,Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória, Espirito Santo, Brasil.
| | - Camila Bôtto-Menezes
- Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado, Av Pedro Teixeira 25, 69040-000, Manaus, Amazonas, Brasil. .,Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Av Castelo Branco 1777, Manaus, Amazonas, Brasil.
| | - Jorge R T Leão
- Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Av Castelo Branco 1777, Manaus, Amazonas, Brasil.
| | - Flor E Martinez-Espinosa
- Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado, Av Pedro Teixeira 25, 69040-000, Manaus, Amazonas, Brasil. .,Instituto Leônidas e Maria Deane, FIOCRUZ Amazonas, R Terezina 476, 69057070, Manaus, Amazonas, Brasil.
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Unger HW, Ome-Kaius M, Karl S, Singirok D, Siba P, Walker J, Wangnapi RA, Mueller I, Rogerson SJ. Factors associated with ultrasound-aided detection of suboptimal fetal growth in a malaria-endemic area in Papua New Guinea. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2015; 15:83. [PMID: 25881316 PMCID: PMC4404558 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-015-0511-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2014] [Accepted: 03/19/2015] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is associated with increased infant mortality rates and ill-health in adulthood. Evaluation of fetal growth requires ultrasound. As a result, ultrasound-assisted evaluations of causes of FGR in malaria-endemic developing countries are rare. We aimed to determine factors associated with indicators of abnormal fetal growth in rural lowland Papua New Guinea (PNG). Methods Weights and growth of 671 ultrasound-dated singleton pregnancies (<25 gestational weeks) were prospectively monitored using estimated fetal weights and birthweights. Maternal nutritional status and haemoglobin levels were assessed at enrolment, and participants were screened for malaria on several occasions. FGR was suspected upon detection of an estimated fetal weight or birthweight <10th centile (small-for-gestational age) and/or low fetal weight gain, defined as a change in weight z-score in the first quartile. Factors associated with fetal weight and fetal weight gain were additionally assessed by evaluating differences in weight z-scores and change in weight z-scores. Log-binomial and linear mixed effect models were used to determine factors associated with indicators of FGR. Results SGA and low weight gain were detected in 48.3% and 37.0% of pregnancies, respectively. Of participants, 13.8%, 21.2%, and 22.8% had a low mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC, <22 cms), short stature (<150 cms) and anaemia (haemoglobin <90 g/L) at first antenatal visit. 24.0% (161/671) of women had at least one malaria infection detected in peripheral blood. A low MUAC (adjusted risk ratio [aRR] 1.51, 95% CI 1.29, 1.76, P < 0.001), short stature (aRR 1.27, 95% CI 1.04, 1.55, P = 0.009), and anaemia (aRR 1.27, 95% CI 1.06, 1.51, P = 0.009) were associated with SGA, and a low body mass index was associated with low fetal weight gain (aRR 2.10, 95% CI 1.62, 2.71, P < 0.001). Additionally, recent receipt of intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy was associated with increased weight z-scores, and anaemia with reduced change in weight z-scores. Malaria infection was associated with SGA on crude but not adjusted analyses (aRR 1.13, 95% CI 0.95, 1.34, P = 0.172). Conclusion Macronutrient undernutrition and anaemia increased the risk of FGR. Antenatal nutritional interventions and malaria prevention could improve fetal growth in PNG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Holger Werner Unger
- Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research (PNG IMR), 60, Goroka, Eastern Highlands Province 411, Papua New Guinea. .,Department of Medicine (Royal Melbourne Hospital), The University of Melbourne, Post Office Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, VIC 3050, Melbourne, Australia.
| | - Maria Ome-Kaius
- Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research (PNG IMR), 60, Goroka, Eastern Highlands Province 411, Papua New Guinea.
| | - Stephan Karl
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI), 1G Royal Parade, Parkville 3052, Melbourne, Australia.
| | - Dupain Singirok
- Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research (PNG IMR), 60, Goroka, Eastern Highlands Province 411, Papua New Guinea.
| | - Peter Siba
- Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research (PNG IMR), 60, Goroka, Eastern Highlands Province 411, Papua New Guinea.
| | - Jane Walker
- Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, 51 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4SA, UK.
| | - Regina Alice Wangnapi
- Department of Medicine (Royal Melbourne Hospital), The University of Melbourne, Post Office Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, VIC 3050, Melbourne, Australia.
| | - Ivo Mueller
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI), 1G Royal Parade, Parkville 3052, Melbourne, Australia. .,Barcelona Centre for International Health Research (CRESIB), Rosselo 132, 08036, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Stephen John Rogerson
- Department of Medicine (Royal Melbourne Hospital), The University of Melbourne, Post Office Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, VIC 3050, Melbourne, Australia.
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Rijken MJ, De Livera AM, Lee SJ, Boel ME, Rungwilailaekhiri S, Wiladphaingern J, Paw MK, Pimanpanarak M, Pukrittayakamee S, Simpson JA, Nosten F, McGready R. Quantifying low birth weight, preterm birth and small-for-gestational-age effects of malaria in pregnancy: a population cohort study. PLoS One 2014; 9:e100247. [PMID: 24983755 PMCID: PMC4077658 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0100247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2014] [Accepted: 05/22/2014] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The association between malaria during pregnancy and low birth weight (LBW) is well described. This manuscript aims to quantify the relative contribution of malaria to small-for-gestational-age (SGA) infants and preterm birth (PTB) in pregnancies accurately dated by ultrasound on the Thai-Myanmar border at the Shoklo Malaria Research Unit. Methods and Findings From 2001 to 2010 in a population cohort of prospectively followed pregnancies, we analyzed all singleton newborns who were live born, normal, weighed in the first hour of life and with a gestational age (GA) between 28+0 and 41+6 weeks. Fractional polynomial regression was used to determine the mean birthweight and standard deviation as functions of GA. Risk differences and factors of LBW and SGA were studied across the range of GA for malaria and non-malaria pregnancies. From 10,264 newborns records, population centiles were created. Women were screened for malaria by microscopy a median of 22 [range 1–38] times and it was detected and treated in 12.6% (1,292) of pregnancies. Malaria was associated with LBW, PTB, and SGA compared to those without malaria. Nearly two-thirds of PTB were classified as LBW (68% (539/789)), most of which 83% (447/539) were not SGA. After GA 39 weeks, 5% (298/5,966) of non-LBW births were identified as SGA. Low body mass index, primigravida, hypertension, smoking and female sex of the newborn were also significantly and independently associated with LBW and SGA consistent with previous publications. Conclusions Treated malaria in pregnancy was associated with an increased risk for LBW, PTB, and SGA, of which the latter are most important for infant survival. Using LBW as an endpoint without adjusting for GA incorrectly estimated the effects of malaria in pregnancy. Ultrasound should be used for dating pregnancies and birth weights should be expressed as a function (or adjusted for GA) of GA in future malaria in pregnancy studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcus J. Rijken
- Shoklo Malaria Research Unit, Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Mae Sot, Thailand
- * E-mail:
| | - Alysha M. De Livera
- Centre for Molecular, Environmental, Genetic and Analytic Epidemiology, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Sue J. Lee
- Shoklo Malaria Research Unit, Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Mae Sot, Thailand
- Centre for Tropical Medicine, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Machteld E. Boel
- Shoklo Malaria Research Unit, Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Mae Sot, Thailand
| | - Suthatsana Rungwilailaekhiri
- Shoklo Malaria Research Unit, Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Mae Sot, Thailand
| | - Jacher Wiladphaingern
- Shoklo Malaria Research Unit, Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Mae Sot, Thailand
| | - Moo Kho Paw
- Shoklo Malaria Research Unit, Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Mae Sot, Thailand
| | - Mupawjay Pimanpanarak
- Shoklo Malaria Research Unit, Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Mae Sot, Thailand
| | | | - Julie A. Simpson
- Centre for Molecular, Environmental, Genetic and Analytic Epidemiology, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - François Nosten
- Shoklo Malaria Research Unit, Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Mae Sot, Thailand
- Centre for Tropical Medicine, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - 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, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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Tagbor H, Antwi G, Dogbe J. Safety of antimalarial drugs exposure during early pregnancy. Res Rep Trop Med 2014; 5:23-33. [PMID: 32669889 PMCID: PMC7337211 DOI: 10.2147/rrtm.s34683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2014] [Accepted: 04/23/2014] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Inadequately controlled malaria infection in pregnancy is associated with poor maternal and fetal outcomes. However, there are important questions about drug safety for mothers with malaria and their fetuses as, currently, there is limited safety data on many of the medications used. The objective of this review is to determine from published evidence the safety of antimalarial drugs exposure during early pregnancy, focusing on abortions, stillbirths, and congenital abnormalities. Methods We searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Malaria in Pregnancy databases from their inception to June 2013, inclusive, for reports published in English only. Data were extracted on exposure to antimalarial drugs during early pregnancy and adverse pregnancy outcomes including congenital abnormalities, stillbirth, and miscarriage. Results Twenty-two publications including one abstract with a total of 6,333 early pregnancy exposures to antimalarial agents used for treatment and/or prevention of malaria in pregnancy met the inclusion criteria. More than 40% of the pregnancies were exposed to mefloquine, about 10% to artemisinin based regimens and, 15.2% and 14.7% were exposed to chloroquine and quinine, respectively. A total of 1,199 adverse outcomes including abortions, stillbirths, and congenital abnormalities were reported. The reported absolute risks of adverse outcomes were similar for all the antimalarial exposures, but, in two publications, increased risk of stillbirths was linked to mefloquine exposure. Extensive heterogeneity and variability in the way in which authors assessed, recorded, and reported safety data precluded formal meta-analysis. Conclusion The absolute estimates of risks obtained in the included studies are difficult to interpret and the clinical significance of any association of adverse outcomes reported with antimalarial exposure in early pregnancy is uncertain. Well planned, executed, and analyzed studies are needed to confirm whether there is increased risk for adverse fetal outcomes attributable to exposure of first trimester pregnancies to antimalarials compared to relevant controls.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Joslin Dogbe
- Department of Child Health, School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
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Ahmed R, Singh N, ter Kuile FO, Bharti PK, Singh PP, Desai M, Udhayakumar V, Terlouw DJ. Placental infections with histologically confirmed Plasmodium falciparum are associated with adverse birth outcomes in India: a cross-sectional study. Malar J 2014; 13:232. [PMID: 24927762 PMCID: PMC4065549 DOI: 10.1186/1475-2875-13-232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2014] [Accepted: 06/08/2014] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Few studies have assessed placental malaria infections from low transmission areas by histopathology to define their impact and underlying mechanisms. METHODS Peripheral smears and rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs), placental smears and histological samples, birth weight and gestational age were collected from 2,282 deliveries in three hospitals during a one-year (2006-2007) continuous cross-sectional survey in Madhya Pradesh. Placental histopathology included all 50 cases positive by microscopy or RDT plus 456 randomly selected samples of women negative for malaria by microscopy or RDT. Histological examination included parasites, inflammatory cells, pigment in fibrin, and morphological changes. RESULTS There were 52 histology-positive cases; 38 (73.1%) active (acute and chronic) and 14 past infections. Intervillous parasitaemia was low (60% had < 1% parasitaemia) and monocytosis mostly mild (63%). Compared with uninfected placentas, acute Plasmodium falciparum infections were associated with stillbirth (RR 3.8, 95% CI 1.2-12.1), lower maternal haemoglobin (mean difference: 1.5 g/dL, 95% CI 0.5-2.5), lower birth weight (mean difference 451 g, 95% CI 169-609) and shorter gestation (mean difference 0.8 weeks, 95% CI 0.2-1.4). Chronic or past infections were not associated with these outcomes. Among the 11 peripheral Plasmodium vivax cases, placental parasites were absent, but they were associated with increased placental polymorphonuclear cells. CONCLUSIONS Malaria associated stillbirth and low birth weight in women with low protective immunity may result, at least in part, from a shortened gestation triggered by acute infection, stressing the importance of early malaria detection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Dianne J Terlouw
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK.
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Brutus L, Santalla J, Schneider D, Avila JC, Deloron P. Plasmodium vivax malaria during pregnancy, Bolivia. Emerg Infect Dis 2014; 19:1605-11. [PMID: 24050302 PMCID: PMC3810741 DOI: 10.3201/eid1910.130308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium vivax is a major cause of illness in areas with low transmission of malaria in Latin America, Asia, and the Horn of Africa. However, pregnancy-associated malaria remains poorly characterized in such areas. Using a hospital-based survey of women giving birth and an antenatal survey, we assessed the prevalence rates of Plasmodium spp. infections in pregnant women in Bolivia, and evaluated the consequences of malaria during pregnancy on the health of mothers and newborns. P. vivax infection was detected in 7.9% of pregnant women attending antenatal visits, and placental infection occurred in 2.8% of deliveries; these rates did not vary with parity. Forty-two percent of all P. vivax malaria episodes were symptomatic. P. vivax-infected pregnant women were frequently anemic (6.5%) and delivered babies of reduced birthweight. P. vivax infections during pregnancy are clearly associated with serious adverse outcomes and should be considered in prevention strategies of pregnancy-associated malaria.
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A cohort study of Plasmodium falciparum malaria in pregnancy and associations with uteroplacental blood flow and fetal anthropometrics in Kenya. Int J Gynaecol Obstet 2014; 126:78-82. [PMID: 24792408 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijgo.2014.01.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2013] [Revised: 01/28/2014] [Accepted: 03/27/2014] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To use ultrasound to explore the impact of malaria in pregnancy on fetal growth and newborn outcomes among a cohort of women enrolled in an intermittent presumptive treatment in pregnancy (IPTp) with sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine (SP) program in coastal Kenya. METHODS Enrolled women were tested for malaria at first prenatal care visit, and physical and ultrasound examinations were performed. In total, 477 women who had term, live births had malaria tested at delivery and their birth outcomes assessed, and were included in the study. RESULTS Peripheral malaria was detected via polymerase chain reaction among 10.9% (n=87) at first prenatal care visit and 8.8% (n=36) at delivery. Insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs) were used by 73.6% (n=583) and were associated with decreased malaria risk. There was a trend for impaired fetal growth and placental blood flow in malaria-infected women in the second trimester, but not later in pregnancy. Among women with low body mass index (BMI), malaria was associated with reduced birth weight (P=0.04); anthropometric measures were similar otherwise. CONCLUSION With IPTp-SP and ITNs, malaria in pregnancy was associated with transient differences in utero, and reduced birth weight was restricted to those with low BMI.
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Loop-mediated isothermal amplification for rapid and semiquantitative detection of Loa loa infection. J Clin Microbiol 2014; 52:2071-7. [PMID: 24696020 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.00525-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Rapid and accurate tests are currently needed to identify individuals with high levels of Loa loa microfilaria (mf), so that these individuals may be excluded from mass ivermectin administration campaigns against onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis being conducted in areas where Onchocerca volvulus, Wuchereria bancrofti, and L. loa are coendemic. To address this need, colorimetric loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assays targeting the L. loa-specific gene sequences LLMF72 and LLMF342 were developed for the detection and quantification of L. loa microfilaremia. Both LAMP assays were highly specific (100%) for L. loa infection compared to the absence of infection or infection with related filarial pathogens. The LLMF72-based LAMP assay showed greater analytic sensitivity (limit of detection, 0.1 pg/ml of genomic DNA [gDNA] and/or 5 mf/ml) than the LLMF342-based LAMP assay (10 pg/ml of gDNA and/or 50 mf/ml), and its analytic sensitivity was similar to that of LLMF72-based quantitative PCR (qPCR). A high level of correlation was observed between microfilaria counts as determined by LLMF72-based qPCR and time to positivity by the LAMP assay, and performance measures of sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were similar for both assays when applied to field-collected clinical samples. By simply varying the run time, the LAMP assay was able to accurately distinguish individuals at risk for serious adverse events (SAEs) after exposure to ivermectin, using thresholds of >5,000 mf/ml and >30,000 mf/ml as indicators of increasing levels of risk. In summary, LLMF72 LAMP represents a new molecular diagnostic tool that is readily applicable as a point-of-care method for L. loa microfilarial detection and quantification in resource-limited countries where L. loa infection is endemic.
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Machado Filho AC, da Costa EP, da Costa EP, Reis IS, Fernandes EAC, Paim BV, Martinez-Espinosa FE. Effects of vivax malaria acquired before 20 weeks of pregnancy on subsequent changes in fetal growth. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2014; 90:371-6. [PMID: 24420773 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.13-0285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
The resistance index (RI), pulsatility index (PI), fetal biometry, fetal heart rate (FHR), placental thickness, and hemoglobin levels were compared in 30 Plasmodium vivax-infected women between 14 and 20 weeks of pregnancy and a control group. Evaluations were performed at the moment of the malaria diagnosis and 26 weeks of pregnancy. The malaria group had lower levels of hemoglobin and greater placental thickness in both assessments, higher FHR in the first evaluation, and lower values on fetal biometry in the second assessment. There were no differences when comparing RI and PI on umbilical arteries between the two groups. Birth weight and height were lower in newborns in the malaria group than the control group. The results suggest that P. vivax infections at an earlier gestational age do not affect umbilical arteries blood flow but do affect fetal biometry in the second trimester of pregnancy and at birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amantino C Machado Filho
- Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr Heitor Vieira Dourado, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil; Instituto Leônidas e Maria Deane, FIOCRUZ, Amazônia, Brazil
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Chaikitgosiyakul S, Rijken MJ, Muehlenbachs A, Lee SJ, Chaisri U, Viriyavejakul P, Turner GD, Pongponratn E, Nosten F, McGready R. A morphometric and histological study of placental malaria shows significant changes to villous architecture in both Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax infection. Malar J 2014; 13:4. [PMID: 24386908 PMCID: PMC3900675 DOI: 10.1186/1475-2875-13-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2013] [Accepted: 12/28/2013] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Malaria in pregnancy remains a major health problem. Placental malaria infection may cause pathophysiological changes in pregnancy and result in morphological changes to placental villi. Quantitative histomorphological image analysis of placental biopsies was performed to compare placental villous architecture between active or treated placental malaria cases and controls. METHODS A total of 67 placentas were studied from three clinical groups: control patients who did not have malaria (n = 27), active (n = 14) and treated (n=26) malaria cases, including both Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax infections. Image analysis of histological placental sections was performed using ImageJ software to measure the number and size (area) of terminal villi, perimeter measurement per villus and total perimeter per unit area, and number of capillaries per villus (vascularity). Histological features of placental malaria were scored and these results were correlated with malaria status and clinical outcomes. RESULTS Villous size correlated with vascularity (p <0.0001) but was inversely correlated with observed villi per unit area, (p = 0.0001). Significantly greater villous area and vascularity was observed in UK controls. Indices of histological malaria infection were significantly greater in active versus treated malaria cases. Active placental malaria cases showed significantly smaller villous area (p <0.0084), vascularity (p <0.0139) and perimeter (p <0.0006) than treated malaria cases or controls, but significantly more villi per unit area (p <0.0001). Villous size in treated malaria cases was significantly larger than active placental malaria cases (p <0.001) and similar to controls. There was a significant relationship between villous number and anaemia at the time of infection (p <0.0034), but not placental weight, birth weight or gestational age at delivery. No differences were found between histology or villous morphology comparing infections with P. falciparum or P. vivax. CONCLUSIONS These results imply that villous size, perimeter and vascularity are acutely decreased during active placental malaria, decreasing the surface area available for gas exchange per villus. However the increased number of villi per unit area offsets this change and persists after treatment. Histopathological and villous architectural changes may be reversed by early detection and appropriate anti-malarial treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Gareth D Turner
- Department of Tropical Pathology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, 420/6 Rajvithi Road, Bangkok 10400, Thailand.
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Abstract
Infection by bacteria, viruses, and parasites may lead to fetal death, organ injury, or limited sequelae depending on the pathogen. Here, we consider the role of infection during pregnancy in fetal development including placental development and function, which can lead to fetal growth restriction. The classical group of teratogenic pathogens is referred to as 'TORCH' (Toxoplasma gondii, others like Treponema pallidum, rubella virus, cytomegalovirus, and herpes simplex virus) but should include a much broader group of pathogens including Parvovirus B19, Varicella zoster virus, and Plasmodium falciparum to name a few. In this review, we describe the influence of different infections in utero on fetal development and the short- and long-term outcomes for the neonate. In some cases, the mechanisms used by these pathogens to disrupt fetal development are well known. Bacterial infection of the developing fetal lungs and brain begins with an inflammatory cascade resulting in cytokine injury and oxidative stress. For some pathogens like P. falciparum, the mechanisms involve oxidative stress and apoptosis to disrupt placental and fetal growth. An in utero infection may also affect the long-term health of the infant; in many cases, a viral infection in utero increases the risk of developing type 1 diabetes in childhood. Understanding the varied mechanisms employed by these pathogens may enable therapies to attenuate changes in fetal development, decrease preterm birth, and improve survival.
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Kalilani-Phiri L, Thesing PC, Nyirenda OM, Mawindo P, Madanitsa M, Membe G, Wylie B, Masonbrink A, Makwakwa K, Kamiza S, Muehlenbachs A, Taylor TE, Laufer MK. Timing of malaria infection during pregnancy has characteristic maternal, infant and placental outcomes. PLoS One 2013; 8:e74643. [PMID: 24058614 PMCID: PMC3776740 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0074643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2013] [Accepted: 08/05/2013] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
We conducted a clinical study of pregnant women in Blantyre, Malawi to determine the effect of the timing of malaria infection during pregnancy on maternal, infant and placental outcomes. Women were enrolled in their first or second trimester of their first or second pregnancy and followed every four weeks until delivery. Three doses of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine were given for intermittent preventive treatment for malaria, and all episodes of parasitemia were treated according to the national guidelines. Placentas were collected at delivery and examined for malaria parasites and pigment by histology. Pregnant women had 0.6 episodes of malaria per person year of follow up. Almost all episodes of malaria were detected at enrollment and malaria infection during the follow up period was rare. Malaria and anemia at the first antenatal visit were independently associated with an increased risk of placental malaria detected at delivery. When all episodes of malaria were treated with effective antimalarial medication, only peripheral malaria infection at the time of delivery was associated with adverse maternal and infant outcomes. One quarter of the analyzed placentas had evidence of malaria infection. Placental histology was 78% sensitive and 89% specific for peripheral malaria infection during pregnancy. This study suggests that in this setting of high antifolate drug resistance, three doses of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine maintain some efficacy in suppressing microscopically detectable parasitemia, although placental infection remains frequent. Even in this urban setting, a large proportion of women have malaria infection at the time of their first antenatal care visit. Interventions to control malaria early and aggressive case detection are required to limit the detrimental effects of pregnancy-associated malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda Kalilani-Phiri
- Department of Community Heath, University of Malawi College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Phillip C. Thesing
- Blantyre Malaria Project, University of Malawi College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Osward M. Nyirenda
- Blantyre Malaria Project, University of Malawi College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Patricia Mawindo
- Blantyre Malaria Project, University of Malawi College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Mwayi Madanitsa
- Blantyre Malaria Project, University of Malawi College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Gladys Membe
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Malawi College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Blair Wylie
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Abbey Masonbrink
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Kingsley Makwakwa
- Department of Histopathology, University of Malawi College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Steve Kamiza
- Department of Histopathology, University of Malawi College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Atis Muehlenbachs
- Department of Pathology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Terrie E. Taylor
- Blantyre Malaria Project, University of Malawi College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Michigan State University, E. Lansing, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Miriam K. Laufer
- Center for Vaccine Development/HHMI, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
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Turner C, Carrara V, Aye Mya Thein N, Chit Mo Mo Win N, Turner P, Bancone G, White NJ, McGready R, Nosten F. Neonatal intensive care in a Karen refugee camp: a 4 year descriptive study. PLoS One 2013; 8:e72721. [PMID: 23991145 PMCID: PMC3749980 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0072721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2013] [Accepted: 07/12/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background A third of all deaths in children aged <5 years occur in the neonatal period. Neonatal intensive care is often considered too complex and expensive to be implemented in resource poor settings. Consequently the reductions that have been made in infant mortality in the poorest countries have not been made in the neonatal period. This manuscript describes the activities surrounding the introduction of special care baby unit (SCBU) in a refugee setting and the resulting population impact. Methods A SCBU was developed in Maela refugee camp on the Thailand-Myanmar border. This unit comprised of a dedicated area, basic equipment, drugs and staff training. Training was built around neonatal guidelines, comprising six clinical steps: recognition, resuscitation, examination, supportive medical care, specialised medical care, and counselling of parents with sick newborns. Results From January 2008 until December 2011, 952 infants were admitted to SCBU. The main admission diagnoses were early onset neonatal sepsis, jaundice and prematurity. Early prematurity (<34 weeks) carried the highest risk of mortality (OR 9.5, 95% CI 5.4–16.5, p<0.001). There was a significant decrease in mortality from 19.3% (2008) to 4.8% (2011) among the infants admitted for prematurity (p=0.03). The neonatal mortality in Maela camp as a whole declined by 51% from 21.8 to 10.7 deaths per 1000 live births over the corresponding period (p=0.04). Staff expressed more confidence in their ability to take care of neonates and there was a more positive attitude towards premature infants. Conclusion Neonatal mortality can be reduced in a resource poor setting by introduction of a simple low cost unit specialising in care of sick neonates and run by local health workers following adequate training. Training in recognition and provision of simple interventions at a high standard can increase staff confidence and reduce fatalistic attitudes towards premature neonates.
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Wylie BJ, Kalilani-Phiri L, Madanitsa M, Membe G, Nyirenda O, Mawindo P, Kuyenda R, Malenga A, Masonbrink A, Makanani B, Thesing P, Laufer MK. Gestational age assessment in malaria pregnancy cohorts: a prospective ultrasound demonstration project in Malawi. Malar J 2013; 12:183. [PMID: 23734718 PMCID: PMC3679840 DOI: 10.1186/1475-2875-12-183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2013] [Accepted: 05/24/2013] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Malaria during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk for low birth weight (<2500 grams). Distinguishing infants that are born premature (< 37 weeks) from those that are growth-restricted (less than the 10th percentile at birth) requires accurate assessment of gestational age. Where ultrasound is accessible, sonographic confirmation of gestational age is more accurate than menstrual dating. The goal was to pilot the feasibility and utility of adding ultrasound to an observational pregnancy malaria cohort. Methods In July 2009, research staff (three mid-level clinical providers, one nurse) from The Blantyre Malaria Project underwent an intensive one-week ultrasound training to perform foetal biometry. Following an additional four months of practice and remote image review, subjects from an ongoing cohort were recruited for ultrasound to determine gestational age. Gestational age at delivery established by ultrasound was compared with postnatal gestational age assessment (Ballard examination). Results One hundred and seventy-eight women were enrolled. The majority of images were of good quality (94.3%, 509/540) although a learning curve was apparent with 17.5% (24/135) images of unacceptable quality in the first 25% of scans. Ultrasound was used to date 13% of the pregnancies when menstrual dates were unknown and changed the estimated gestational age for an additional 25%. There was poor agreement between the gestational age at delivery as established by the ultrasound protocol compared to that determined by the Ballard examination (bias 0.8 weeks, limits of agreement -3.5 weeks to 5.1 weeks). The distribution of gestational ages by Ballard suggested a clustering of gestational age around the mean with 87% of the values falling between 39 and 41 weeks. The distribution of gestational age by ultrasound confirmed menstrual dates was more typical. Using ultrasound confirmed dates as the gold standard, 78.5% of preterm infants were misclassified as term and 26.8% of small-for gestational age infants misclassified as appropriately grown by Ballard. Conclusion Ultrasound should be strongly considered in prospective malaria studies with obstetric endpoints to confirm gestational age and avoid misclassification of infants as premature or growth-restricted. The use of ultrasound does require a significant investment of time to maintain quality image acquisition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blair J Wylie
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
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Singh A, Kumar A, Kumar A. Determinants of neonatal mortality in rural India, 2007-2008. PeerJ 2013; 1:e75. [PMID: 23734339 PMCID: PMC3669267 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.75] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2013] [Accepted: 04/25/2013] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background. Despite the growing share of neonatal mortality in under-5 mortality in the recent decades in India, most studies have focused on infant and child mortality putting neonatal mortality on the back seat. The development of focused and evidence-based health interventions to reduce neonatal mortality warrants an examination of factors affecting it. Therefore, this study attempt to examine individual, household, and community level factors affecting neonatal mortality in rural India. Data and methods. We analysed information on 171,529 singleton live births using the data from the most recent round of the District Level Household Survey conducted in 2007-08. Principal component analysis was used to create an asset index. Two-level logistic regression was performed to analyse the factors associated with neonatal deaths in rural India. Results. The odds of neonatal death were lower for neonates born to mothers with secondary level education (O R = 0.60, p = 0.01) compared to those born to illiterate mothers. A progressive reduction in the odds occurred as the level of fathers' education increased. The odds of neonatal death were lower for infants born to unemployed mothers (O R = 0.89, p = 0.00) compared to those who worked as agricultural worker/farmer/laborer. The odds decreased if neonates belonged to Scheduled Tribes (O R = 0.72, p = 0.00) or 'Others' caste group (O R = 0.87, p = 0.04) and to the households with access to improved sanitation (O R = 0.87, p = 0.02), pucca house (O R = 0.87, p = 0.03) and electricity (O R = 0.84, p = 0.00). The odds were higher for male infants (O R = 1.21, p = 0.00) and whose mother experienced delivery complications (O R = 1.20, p = 0.00). Infants whose mothers received two tetanus toxoid injections (O R = 0.65, p = 0.00) were less likely to die in the neonatal period. Children of higher birth order were less likely to die compared to first birth order. Conclusion. Ensuring the consumption of an adequate quantity of Tetanus Toxoid (TT) injections by pregnant mothers, targeting vulnerable groups like young, first time and Scheduled Caste mothers, and improving overall household environment by increasing access to improved toilets, electricity, and pucca houses could also contribute to further reductions in neonatal mortality in rural India. Any public health interventions aimed at reducing neonatal death in rural India should consider these factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aditya Singh
- Global Health and Social Care Unit, School of Health Sciences and Social Work, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, United Kingdom
| | - Abhishek Kumar
- International Institute for Population Sciences, Mumbai, India
| | - Amit Kumar
- International Institute for Population Sciences, Mumbai, India
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Polley SD, González IJ, Mohamed D, Daly R, Bowers K, Watson J, Mewse E, Armstrong M, Gray C, Perkins MD, Bell D, Kanda H, Tomita N, Kubota Y, Mori Y, Chiodini PL, Sutherland CJ. Clinical evaluation of a loop-mediated amplification kit for diagnosis of imported malaria. J Infect Dis 2013; 208:637-44. [PMID: 23633403 PMCID: PMC3719897 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jit183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 118] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background. Diagnosis of malaria relies on parasite detection by microscopy or antigen detection; both fail to detect low-density infections. New tests providing rapid, sensitive diagnosis with minimal need for training would enhance both malaria diagnosis and malaria control activities. We determined the diagnostic accuracy of a new loop-mediated amplification (LAMP) kit in febrile returned travelers. Methods. The kit was evaluated in sequential blood samples from returned travelers sent for pathogen testing to a specialist parasitology laboratory. Microscopy was performed, and then malaria LAMP was performed using Plasmodium genus and Plasmodium falciparum–specific tests in parallel. Nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed on all samples as the reference standard. Primary outcome measures for diagnostic accuracy were sensitivity and specificity of LAMP results, compared with those of nested PCR. Results. A total of 705 samples were tested in the primary analysis. Sensitivity and specificity were 98.4% and 98.1%, respectively, for the LAMP P. falciparum primers and 97.0% and 99.2%, respectively, for the Plasmodium genus primers. Post hoc repeat PCR analysis of all 15 tests with discrepant results resolved 4 results in favor of LAMP, suggesting that the primary analysis had underestimated diagnostic accuracy. Conclusions. Malaria LAMP had a diagnostic accuracy similar to that of nested PCR, with a greatly reduced time to result, and was superior to expert microscopy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Spencer D Polley
- Department of Clinical Parasitology, Walk-in Clinic, Hospital for Tropical Diseases, University London Colleges NHS Foundation Trust, Mortimer Market, London WC1E 6JB, UK
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