Adverse pregnancy outcomes in an area where multidrug-resistant plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum infections are endemic.
BACKGROUND
Plasmodium falciparum infection exerts a considerable burden on pregnant women, but less is known about the adverse consequences of Plasmodium vivax infection.


METHODS
In Papua, Indonesia, where multiple drug resistance to both species has emerged, we conducted a cross-sectional hospital-based study to quantify the risks and consequences of maternal malaria.


RESULTS
From April 2004 through December 2006, 3046 pregnant women were enrolled in the study. The prevalence of parasitemia at delivery was 16.8% (432 of 2570 women had infections), with 152 (35.2%) of these 432 infections being associated with fever. The majority of infections were attributable to P. falciparum (250 [57.9%]); 146 (33.8%) of the infections were attributable to P. vivax, and 36 (8.3%) were coinfections with both species. At delivery, P. falciparum infection was associated with severe anemia (hemoglobin concentration, <7 g/dL; odds ratio [OR], 2.8; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 2.0-4.0) and a 192 g (95% CI, 119-265) reduction in mean birth weight (P<.001). P. vivax infection was associated with an increased risk of moderate anemia (hemoglobin concentration, 7-11 g/dL; OR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.2-2.9; P=.01) and a 108 g (95% CI, 17.5-199) reduction in mean birth weight (P<.019). Parasitemia was associated with preterm delivery (OR, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.1-2.0; P=.02) and stillbirth (OR, 2.3; 95% CI, 1.3-4.1; P=.007) but was not associated with these outcomes after controlling for the presence of fever and severe anemia, suggesting that malaria increases the risk of preterm delivery and stillbirth through fever and contribution to severe anemia rather than through parasitemia per se.


CONCLUSIONS
These observations highlight the need for novel, safe, and effective treatment and prevention strategies against both multidrug-resistant P. falciparum and multidrug-resistant P. vivax infections in pregnant women in areas of mixed endemicity.
Poespoprodjo
Jeanne Rini
JR
District Health Authority, School of Health Research-National Institute of Health Research and Development Malaria Research Program, Indonesia.
Fobia
Wendy
W
Kenangalem
Enny
E
Lampah
Daniel A
DA
Warikar
Noah
N
Seal
Andrew
A
McGready
Rose
R
Sugiarto
Paulus
P
Tjitra
Emiliana
E
Anstey
Nicholas M
NM
Price
Ric N
RN
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000627:therapeutic use; D037621:Artemisinins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018432:Drug Resistance, Multiple; D019353:Endemic Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007214:Indonesia / Q000453:epidemiology; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016780:Malaria, Vivax / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018512:Parasitemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010966:Plasmodium vivax / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011247:Pregnancy; D015597:Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011804:Quinolines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D010879:Piperazines
D000962:Antimalarials; D037621:Artemisinins; D011804:Quinolines; C039060:artenimol; C034759:piperaquine; D010879:Piperazines