For a long time now doctors and researchers have been mystified by the reason why high blood pressure has been occurring in pregnant women. A report put together by a research group in Adelaide has been the first of a kind in reporting that when pregnant women were exposed to viral infections of any kind and in particular the herpes viruses there is a definite link between these viruses and the presence of high blood pressure. Hence their results are a big step in ascertaining the causes of hypertension in pre term birth and pregnancy. This research group has thus already shown the link that exists between viral infections and genetic mutations among genes that control the inflammatory process and the blood clotting process. It has also shown the link between the virus and the occurrence of cerebral palsy.
Research found that there is a link between various gene mutations that are hereditary leading and changes in the inflammatory proteins that may possibly result in constriction and dysfunction of a person’s blood vessels surrounding the brain and the placenta which further leads to the increase in blood pressure during pregnancy. If not monitored and treated the results can be lethal and even fatal. More studies and research are underway to look at further links between viral infections in pregnancy and the susceptibility to pregnancy hypertension, cerebral palsy and even premature delivery.
High blood pressure occurs in approximately ten percent of all first pregnancies. This is especially so in developed countries like United States, UK and Australia. If the infection is not treated it can be the cause of uncontrollable epileptic fits of eclampsia which results in loss of both the baby and the mother. It is one of the most common causes of pregnancy and maternal deaths in the Third World nations. Samples were taken from 1326 newly born babies over a period of ten years which indicated the presence of a nucleic viral acid. 400 odd babies were then found to have cerebral palsy.
Rubella also known as German measles has been found to be a cause of congenital birth defects among pregnant women who catch the virus in their first trimester. This can also lead to miscarriages occurring. However, rubella is not a common virus due to the vaccinations against which is a component of the MMR vaccination. Doctors are constantly watching out for this virus and conduct regular tests on women as a part of the prenatal blood testing. Parvovirus B19 is the cause of the fifth disease which is a mild sickness. It can cause hydrops fetalis if a pregnant woman is exposed to it and may end up miscarrying in up to five percent of the cases.