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Is hyperthermia teratogenic in the human?
B B Little1, F E Ghali, L M Snell
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas 75235-9032.
American Journal of Perinatology
|May 1, 1991
Summary
Maternal fever during early pregnancy may increase the risk of congenital anomalies, specifically abdominal wall defects, in newborns. Animal studies support this link, but human data remains inconclusive.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Science
- Developmental Biology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Maternal hyperthermia during embryogenesis is suspected to cause congenital anomalies.
- Existing human data is inconclusive, while animal models suggest a link between maternal fever and structural anomalies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between maternal fever during the first trimester and the occurrence of congenital anomalies in offspring.
- To compare pregnancy outcomes in women with reported fever versus a control group.
Main Methods:
- A cohort study comparing women reporting a temperature of 101°F or higher for ≥24 hours in the first trimester against a matched control group.
- Matching criteria included last menstrual period, parity, and maternal age.
Main Results:
- A statistically significant increase in the frequency of abdominal wall defects was observed in offspring of mothers who experienced sustained high temperatures during embryogenesis.
- This finding, while not aligning with all previous human studies, is consistent with reports from animal models.
Conclusions:
- Sustained maternal hyperthermia during early embryogenesis may be associated with an increased risk of specific congenital anomalies, such as abdominal wall defects.
- Further research is warranted to clarify the human risk, considering evidence from both epidemiological and animal studies.