Publication: Effect of malaria in pregnancy on foetal cortical brain development: a longitudinal observational study
Issued Date
2012
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eng
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Mahidol University
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BioMed Central
Bibliographic Citation
Malaria Journal. Vol.11, (2012), 222
Suggested Citation
Rijken, Marcus J, Merel Charlotte de Wit, Mulder, Eduard JH, Suporn Kiricharoen, Noaeni Karunkonkowit, Tamalar Paw, Visser, Gerard HA, McGready, Rose, Nosten, François H, Pistorius, Lourens R Effect of malaria in pregnancy on foetal cortical brain development: a longitudinal observational study. Malaria Journal. Vol.11, (2012), 222. Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/3068
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Title
Effect of malaria in pregnancy on foetal cortical brain development: a longitudinal observational study
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Abstract
Background: Malaria in pregnancy has a negative impact on foetal growth, but it is not known whether this also
affects the foetal nervous system. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of malaria on foetal cortex
development by three-dimensional ultrasound.
Methods: Brain images were acquired using a portable ultrasound machine and a 3D ultrasound transducer. All
recordings were analysed, blinded to clinical data, using the 4D view software package. The foetal supra-tentorial
brain volume was determined and cortical development was qualitatively followed by scoring the appearance and
development of six sulci. Multilevel analysis was used to study brain volume and cortical development in individual
foetuses.
Results: Cortical grading was possible in 161 out of 223 (72%) serial foetal brain images in pregnant women living
in a malaria endemic area. There was no difference between foetal cortical development or brain volumes at any
time in pregnancy between women with immediately treated malaria infections and non-infected pregnancies.
Conclusion: The percentage of images that could be graded was similar to other neuro-sonographic studies.
Maternal malaria does not have a gross effect on foetal brain development, at least in this population, which had
access to early detection and effective treatment of malaria.