| Impaired fetal thymic growth precedes clinical preeclampsia: a case-control study. | |
MedLine Citation:
|
PMID: 22542908 Owner: NLM Status: Publisher |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
|
In preeclampsia the maternal adaptive immune system undergoes specific changes, which are different from the physiological processes associated with healthy pregnancy. Whether preeclampsia also affects the fetal immune system is difficult to investigate, due to limited access to the fetus. We hypothesized that if preeclampsia affects the fetal adaptive immune system this might be associated with early changes in thymic growth. In this case-control study, 53 preeclamptic and 120 healthy control pregnancies were matched for maternal age, gestational age and smoking. Fetal thymus diameter was measured as the greatest width perpendicular to a line connecting sternum and spine based on ultrasound images taken at 17-21 weeks gestation. Independent of fetal and maternal anthropometric measures, thymuses were found to be smaller in preeclamptic pregnancies than healthy controls (16.2mm versus 18.3mm, respectively, mean difference=2.1mm, 95% CI: 0.8-3.3, p<0.001), and the odds of developing preeclampsia was estimated to be 0.72 (95% CI: 0.60-0.86, p<0.001) lower for each 1mm increase in thymus diameter. There was no correlation between the onset of preeclampsia and fetal thymus size. This is the first study to suggest that fetal thymus growth is reduced before the clinical onset of preeclampsia and precedes any described fetal anomalies or maternal immunological changes associated with preeclampsia. We propose that the fetal adaptive immune system is either passively affected by maternal processes preceding clinical preeclampsia or is actively involved in initiating preeclampsia in later pregnancy. |
Authors:
|
David P Eviston; Ann E Quinton; Ron J Benzie; Michael J Peek; Andrew Martin; Ralph K Nanan |
Related Documents
:
|
6355468 - Neonatal myotonic dystrophy as a cause of hydramnios and neonatal death. a case report ... 2553138 - Reduced levels of uridine diphosphate glucose pyrophosphorylase activity in fetal and n... 20459338 - Preterm birth after mature fetal lung indices: is there any neonatal morbidity? 21292898 - Prevention of malaria during pregnancy: assessing the effect of the distribution of ipt... 22554178 - Managing sexually transmitted infections in pregnant women. 23445128 - Pregnancy management following bariatric surgery. |
Publication Detail:
|
Type: JOURNAL ARTICLE Date: 2012-4-27 |
Journal Detail:
|
Title: Journal of reproductive immunology Volume: - ISSN: 1872-7603 ISO Abbreviation: - Publication Date: 2012 Apr |
Date Detail:
|
Created Date: 2012-4-30 Completed Date: - Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
|
Nlm Unique ID: 8001906 Medline TA: J Reprod Immunol Country: - |
Other Details:
|
Languages: ENG Pagination: - Citation Subset: - |
Copyright Information:
|
Crown Copyright © 2012. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. |
Affiliation:
|
Discipline of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Sydney Medical School, Nepean, The University of Sydney, Kingswood, New South Wales 2751, Australia. |
Export Citation:
|
APA/MLA Format Download EndNote Download BibTex |
| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
|
|
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
Previous Document: Transcriptomic analysis of placenta affected by antiphospholipid antibodies: following the TRAIL of ...
Next Document: A retrospective study on IVF outcome in patients with anticardiolipin antibody: effects of methylpre...