Genetic Influences on Preterm Birth

Emily DeFranco; Kari Teramo; Louis Muglia

doi:10.1055/s-2006-956774

Seminars in Reproductive Medicine, Table of Contents

Semin Reprod Med 2007; 25(1): 040-051
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-956774

Genetic Influences on Preterm Birth

Emily DeFranco¹ , Kari Teramo² , Louis Muglia³

¹Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Center for Preterm Birth Research, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
²Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
³Department of Pediatrics, Director, Division of Endocrinology & Diabetes, Director, Center for Preterm Birth Research, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri

Abstract

ABSTRACT

The high prevalence, increasing frequency, and adverse outcomes for mothers and infants of preterm birth have led to heightened awareness of this public health concern. The causes of preterm birth are likely to be multifactorial, with genetic, infectious, nutritional, behavioral, and other environmental contributors. Because of important differences in the physiology of human pregnancy and that of nonprimate mammals, extrapolation of mechanisms from animal model systems to humans has had limited impact on the understanding of human prematurity. This review summarizes work from many groups that implicates important genetic contributions to human preterm birth. These efforts use epidemiological, classical genetic, and more recently, genomic science approaches to determine pregnancies at risk for preterm delivery and to facilitate an understanding of the substantial racial disparity in preterm birth. Data revealing racial and familial predispositions to prematurity, along with genetic polymorphisms conferring increased preterm birth, promise new insights into the understanding and treatment of this critical problem.

KEYWORDS

Preterm birth - epidemiology - genetics - polymorphism

Full Text

References

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Louis MugliaM.D. Ph.D.

Center for Preterm Birth Research, Washington University School of Medicine

660 S. Euclid Ave., Campus Box 8208, St. Louis, MO 63110

Email: Muglia_L@kids.wustl.edu