TY - JOUR
T1 - Beyond TORCH
T2 - A narrative review of the impact of antenatal and perinatal infections on the risk of disability
AU - Devaraju, Monica
AU - Li, Amanda
AU - Ha, Sandy
AU - Li, Miranda
AU - Shivakumar, Megana
AU - Li, Hanning
AU - Nishiguchi, Erika Phelps
AU - Gérardin, Patrick
AU - Waldorf, Kristina Adams
AU - al-Haddad, Benjamin J.S.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 Elsevier Ltd
PY - 2023/10
Y1 - 2023/10
N2 - Infections and inflammation during pregnancy or early life can alter child neurodevelopment and increase the risk for structural brain abnormalities and mental health disorders. There is strong evidence that TORCH infections (i.e., Treponema pallidum, Toxoplasma gondii, rubella virus, cytomegalovirus, herpes virus) alter fetal neurodevelopment across multiple developmental domains and contribute to motor and cognitive disabilities. However, the impact of a broader range of viral and bacterial infections on fetal development and disability is less well understood. We performed a literature review of human studies to identify gaps in the link between maternal infections, inflammation, and several neurodevelopmental domains. We found strong and moderate evidence respectively for a higher risk of motor and cognitive delays and disabilities in offspring exposed to a range of non-TORCH pathogens during fetal life. In contrast, there is little evidence for an increased risk of language and sensory disabilities. While guidelines for TORCH infection prevention during pregnancy are common, further consideration for prevention of non-TORCH infections during pregnancy for fetal neuroprotection may be warranted.
AB - Infections and inflammation during pregnancy or early life can alter child neurodevelopment and increase the risk for structural brain abnormalities and mental health disorders. There is strong evidence that TORCH infections (i.e., Treponema pallidum, Toxoplasma gondii, rubella virus, cytomegalovirus, herpes virus) alter fetal neurodevelopment across multiple developmental domains and contribute to motor and cognitive disabilities. However, the impact of a broader range of viral and bacterial infections on fetal development and disability is less well understood. We performed a literature review of human studies to identify gaps in the link between maternal infections, inflammation, and several neurodevelopmental domains. We found strong and moderate evidence respectively for a higher risk of motor and cognitive delays and disabilities in offspring exposed to a range of non-TORCH pathogens during fetal life. In contrast, there is little evidence for an increased risk of language and sensory disabilities. While guidelines for TORCH infection prevention during pregnancy are common, further consideration for prevention of non-TORCH infections during pregnancy for fetal neuroprotection may be warranted.
KW - Behavioral disabilities
KW - Cognitive and intellectual disability
KW - Learning disability
KW - Maternal immune activation
KW - Motor skills disorders
KW - Neurodevelopment
KW - Neurodevelopmental delay
KW - Perinatal complications
KW - Sensory disabilities
KW - Speech language disorders
KW - TORCH infections
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85171755885&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85171755885&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105390
DO - 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105390
M3 - Review article
C2 - 37708918
AN - SCOPUS:85171755885
SN - 0149-7634
VL - 153
JO - Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews
JF - Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews
M1 - 105390
ER -