title: Teratogen update: gestational effects of maternal hyperthermia due to febrile illnesses and resultant patterns of defects in humans.
abstract: This review has covered the pertinent literature concerning the teratogenic effects of hyperthermia in man and experimental animals. This is the first teratogen that was initially discovered in animals and then subsequently found to be a cause for concern in humans when similar patterns of defects were observed. Hyperthermia is a physical agent with a dose-response curve for abortions and malformations, but these effects can be mitigated in some circumstances by the heat shock response (HSR). We have reviewed the known functions of HSR and provided some insight into why embryos have some protection following an initial dose of heat, if it is sufficient to initiate the response. Thus, by reviewing the effects of hyperthermia in experimental animals, as well as malformative and protective mechanisms of teratogenesis, we have attempted to understand the effects of human hyperthermia teratogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Medical Genetics Birth Defects Center, UCLA School of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, USA. jgraham@mailgate.csmc.edu
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Graham
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Edwards
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000209:etiology*; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000502:physiology; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000150:complications*; D005865:Gestational Age; D018869:Heat-Shock Response; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome