Prenatal Inflammation and Perinatal Outcomes

Preventing poor perinatal outcomes is the goal of all prenatal care, yet just who will go on to develop preeclampsia or have a growth-restricted baby is notoriously difficult to predict. A growing body of evidence suggests inflammatory markers can help predict poor outcomes, even prior to, and beyond, the current pregnancy. Our project will measure the response of one robust inflammatory marker, C-reactive protein (CRP), to a safe immune provocation recommended for all pregnant women (the seasonal influenza vaccine), and to find out whether CRP response is associated with increased risk for gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, preterm delivery, or birth weight. This work will help inform whether inflammatory markers should become part of routine prenatal care.