new research on influenza A shows the virus behaves very differently in the bodies of pregnant and non-pregnant mice.
Study co-author Professor John O’Leary from Trinity College, Dublin, said the findings represent a landmark advance in the understanding of viral infections and pregnancy.
‘The discovery of an influenza-induced “vascular storm” is one of the most significant developments in inflammatory infectious diseases over the last 30 years,’ he said. ‘[It also] has significant implications for other viral infections, including COVID-19.’
We found a dramatic difference in these inflamed blood vessels, which can seriously affect how much blood makes it to the placenta and all the organs that help support the growing baby,’ he said.
‘We’ve known that flu infection in pregnancy results in an increased risk of babies being smaller and suffering oxygen starvation.
‘Our research shows the critical role that the vascular system could be playing in this, with inflammation in the blood vessels reducing blood flow and nutrient transfer from mum to baby.’
While the researchers did not directly measure blood flow, the study found an increase in biomarkers for oxygen starvation in the fetuses of the flu-infected mice.
Pregnancy is believed to affect influenza severity, as the placenta secretes proteins and releases fetal DNA into the mother’s blood that can cause underlying inflammation; influenza infection may tip that underlying inflammation in the mother’s body into a full-blown systemic inflammatory event.
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Interesting research
Implications of Flu &+other viral infections to mum & foetus
www1.racgp.org.au/newsgp/clini...