Preventable Maternal Risk Factors and Association of Genital Infection with Fetal Growth Restriction

Abstract

Introduction: Maternal risk factors may interfere with mechanisms regulating fetal growth. The aim of the present study was to determine which sociodemographic and reproductive risk factors may be related to fetal growth restriction (FGR), with a special focus on determinants possible for preventive intervention. Materials and Methods: The study period is from May 2007 until December 2009. Data about lifestyle habits were collected by use of a detailed questionnaire in 65 women who attended Riga Maternity Hospital with the confirmed diagnosis of intrauterine FGR of a singleton fetus, and in 65 matched controls with normal pregnancies. Results: Being unmarried (p = 0.04), having pregnancy-related blood pressure rise (p = 0.02), current (p = 0.01) and pre-pregnancy smoking (p = 0.01) and history of more than 3 pregnancy failures (p = 0.04) were more frequent in women with FGR than controls. Surprisingly, the finding of genital infection (STI) during pregnancy (p = 0.006) was also strongly associated with FGR. Conclusions: Obviously, several maternal risk factors play an important role in FGR. Besides refraining from smoking, screening and treating for STI may not only prevent preterm birth, but also FGR. Identifying such anticipating factors would likely have the potential impact if detected before conception, or as early as possible in gestation.

Predicting Fetal Prognosis by Assessing Fetal and Maternal Blood Flow Patterns in Pregnancies with Fetal Growth Restriction

“…Demographic and clinical characteristics of the study population were described elsewhere (40)(41). Doppler waveforms were recorded within seven days of delivery (ranges 2h -7 days).…”

Molecular genetic predictors of congenital infection in fetal growth restriction pregnancy

“…На сегодняшний день принято выделять такие фак-торы риска развития ЗРП и ВУИ, как возраст (до 17 и старше 35 лет) и вредные привычки матери (курение, алкоголь, наркотики), повреждающее воздействие физических или химических факторов на ранних сро-ках гестационного периода, наличие очагов латентной инфекции, экстрагенитальная патология, отягощенный акушерско-гинекологический анамнез и осложнения беременности [5,6,[8][9][10][11][12].…”

Abnormal Vaginal Microflora: Risk Factors, Bed-Side Diagnostic Methods in Pregnancy and Efficiency of an Alternative Non-Antibacterial Treatment Modality in Pregnant and Non-Pregnant Women. Summary of the Doctoral Thesis

“…There are studies that do not support the impact of genital infections on fetal growth [Carey, et al, 1991], but many other authors have shown the opposite [Svare, et al, 2006;, Vedmedovska, et al, 2010. In most studies, BV was associated with fetal growth restriction [Svare, et al, 2008, Vedmedovska, et al, 2010, but this study found the presence of aerobic vaginitis, not pure BV, associated flora and mixed AV-BV flora related to lower birth weight (Table 3.6.) A major reason for this discrepancy could be that in others (and olders) studies AV was not addressed separately, and may have been mixed up with the diagnosis of 'BV'.…”