Herpes linked to Pregnancy Complications
ADELAIDE, Australia (UPI) -- Exposure to viral infection -- especially herpes -- may be associated with pre-eclampsia and premature birth, an Australian study found. Researchers at the South Australian Cerebral Palsy Research Group at the University of Adelaide and the Women's and Children's Hospital discovered the presence of viral nucleic acid in heel-prick blood samples from 1,326 newborn babies, taken over a 10-year period. Study leader Alastair MacLennan said more than 400 of these babies were diagnosed with cerebral palsy. "This is an exciting finding and further studies are now required to look at the link between viral exposure in pregnancy and genetic susceptibility to adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as high blood pressure, premature delivery and cerebral palsy," MacLennan said in a statement. Pregnancy high blood pressure occurs in up to 10 percent of first pregnancies throughout the developed world and if left untreated, it can lead to uncontrolled epileptic fits of eclampsia with loss of baby and mother, MacLennan said. It is a common cause of maternal death in undeveloped countries.
ADELAIDE, Australia (UPI) -- Exposure to viral infection -- especially herpes -- may be associated with pre-eclampsia and premature birth, an Australian study found. Researchers at the South Australian Cerebral Palsy Research Group at the University of Adelaide and the Women's and Children's Hospital discovered the presence of viral nucleic acid in heel-prick blood samples from 1,326 newborn babies, taken over a 10-year period. Study leader Alastair MacLennan said more than 400 of these babies were diagnosed with cerebral palsy. "This is an exciting finding and further studies are now required to look at the link between viral exposure in pregnancy and genetic susceptibility to adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as high blood pressure, premature delivery and cerebral palsy," MacLennan said in a statement. Pregnancy high blood pressure occurs in up to 10 percent of first pregnancies throughout the developed world and if left untreated, it can lead to uncontrolled epileptic fits of eclampsia with loss of baby and mother, MacLennan said. It is a common cause of maternal death in undeveloped countries.
The study is published in the British Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology.
Copyright 2008 by United Press International
Copyright 2008 by United Press International
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