Spectrum of urogenital infections in pregnant women with fetal growth restriction
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15574/HW.2026.1(182).6471Keywords:
urogenital infections, fetal growth restriction, Doppler ultrasound, cerebroplacental ratio, maternal-placental-fetal circulation, pregnancy complicationsAbstract
Urogenital infections during pregnancy may contribute to placental dysfunction, fetal growth restriction (FGR), and adverse perinatal outcomes, though their impact on maternal-placental-fetal circulation is not well understood.
Aim - to evaluate the prevalence of urogenital infections in pregnant women with FGR and their impact on Doppler parameters, cardiotocography (CTG), and perinatal outcomes.
Materials and methods. A prospective cohort study was conducted from 2023 to 2025, including 90 pregnant women: 45 with FGR and 45 with uncomplicated pregnancies. Assessments included laboratory testing for Ureaplasma spp., Mycoplasma spp., Chlamydia trachomatis, and human papillomavirus; Doppler ultrasound of uterine, umbilical, and fetal middle cerebral arteries; cerebroplacental ratio (CPR); CTG; and perinatal outcomes. Statistical analysis used t-tests, χ² tests, and odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals; p<0.05 was considered significant.
Results. Urogenital infections were more common in the FGR group, but differences were not statistically significant. Monoinfections predominated (28.9%). Infected women showed higher uterine (1.34±0.27 vs 1.11±0.22) and umbilical artery pulsatility indices (0.98±0.17 vs 0.81±0.15), lower CPR (1.49±0.36 vs 1.96±0.41), and more frequent CTG abnormalities (33.3% vs 8.7%). Perinatal outcomes were worse: lower birth weight (2450±310 g vs 3220±280 g), higher preterm birth (20% vs 6.7%), and low birth weight (<2500 g, 24.4% vs 4.4%).
Conclusions. Urogenital infections may cause placental dysfunction and fetal hypoxia. Infected women showed Doppler and CTG changes, highlighting the need for early detection and treatment to improve perinatal outcomes.
The study was performed in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. The study protocol was approved by the Local Ethics Committee of the institution mentioned in the work. Informed consent of the patients was obtained for the research.
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
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