Abstract
Spontaneous preterm labour and preterm births are still the leading cause of perinatal
morbidity and mortality in the developed world. Previous efforts to prevent preterm
birth have been hampered by a poor understanding of the underlying pathophysiology,
inadequate diagnostic tools and generally ineffective therapies.
Clinical, epidemiological and experimental studies indicate that genito-urinary tract
infections play a critical role in the pathogenesis of preterm birth. Moreover, intrauterine
infection increases perinatal mortality and morbidity, such as cerebral palsy and
chronic lung disease, significantly.
It has recently been suggested that gene–environment interactions play a significant
role in determining the risk of preterm birth. Polymorphisms of certain critical genes
may be responsible for a harmful inflammatory response in those who possess them.
Accordingly, polymorphisms that increase the magnitude or the duration of the inflammatory
response were associated with an increased risk of preterm birth. In contrast polymorphisms
that decrease the inflammatory response were associated with a lower risk of preterm
birth. This article will review the current understanding of pathogenetic pathways
in the aetiology of preterm birth.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: August 15, 2008
Accepted:
July 11,
2008
Received in revised form:
June 16,
2008
Received:
March 28,
2007
Identification
Copyright
© 2008 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
