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Premature birth and diseases in premature infants: common genetic background?

Mikko Hallman1

  • 1Clinical Institutes of Pediatrics and Obstetrics & Gynecology, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland. mikko.hallman@oulu.fi

The Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine : the Official Journal of the European Association of Perinatal Medicine, the Federation of Asia and Oceania Perinatal Societies, the International Society of Perinatal Obstetricians
|March 6, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Human evolution may have shortened pregnancy, leading to high rates of premature birth and related infant complications. Genetic factors significantly influence both preterm birth and infant diseases, necessitating large-scale genomic studies for better understanding.

Area of Science:

  • Human evolutionary biology
  • Perinatal medicine
  • Medical genetics

Background:

  • Human evolution, characterized by bipedalism and large brains, may have led to shorter gestation periods compared to other mammals.
  • High prevalence of obstructed delivery and premature birth persists, with near-term infants showing good viability but preterm infants (<32 weeks) facing significant risks.
  • Advanced neonatal care enables survival of extremely preterm infants, but genetic predispositions to conditions like bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), and cerebral palsy (CP) are concerns.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the evolutionary pressures on human gestation duration and their link to perinatal outcomes.
  • To investigate the role of genetic factors in preterm birth and the development of common neonatal diseases.
  • To highlight the need for comprehensive genomic studies and international collaboration in perinatal-neonatal research.

Main Methods:

  • Review of evolutionary biology principles related to human birth and gestation.
  • Analysis of current medical literature on preterm birth, neonatal diseases, and genetic associations.
  • Discussion of the requirements for future research, including large cohorts and whole-genome studies.

Main Results:

  • Human evolution, particularly the development of bipedalism and large brains, may have resulted in a shortened pregnancy duration.
  • Genetic factors are implicated in both the susceptibility to preterm labor and the development of serious conditions in preterm infants.
  • Survival rates for very preterm infants have improved due to medical advancements, but genetic predispositions remain a critical area of study.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding the genetic underpinnings of perinatal-neonatal development is crucial for addressing high rates of preterm birth and associated infant morbidities.
  • Large-scale, well-structured population cohorts and international collaboration are essential for advancing research in this field.
  • Future research should focus on whole-genome studies to unravel complex genetic interactions influencing normal and abnormal pregnancy and infant outcomes.

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