OC19.03: Molecular detection of apoptosis to acquired perinatal infections

To assess the level of caspase-3 and the state of the placenta according to ultrasound examination data in pregnant women with chronic perinatal infections. The study involved pregnant after 22 weeks. I group: 60 women with IUI of viral etiology; II group- 60 women with IUI of bacterial etiology; III group- 60 women with IUI of combined etiology; IV group: 50 women with a physiological course of pregnancy. The criteria of IUI were the presence of increased titers of IgM and low-avidity IgG in blood serum and data from an ultrasound examination of the fetoplacental complex. The most pronounced increase in the level of caspase-3 were: the median value- 5.42 ng/ml and 4.60 ng/ml, the interquartile range- 5.20÷5.55ng/ml in group II, 3.51÷6.40ng/ml in group III. It should be noted that the interquartile range in group III overlapped the range of corresponding values of this indicator in groups II and I. The level of caspase-3 in group I was significantly increased in relation to the control, but to a lesser extent compared to groups II and III. In this case, the median-2.50ng/ml, the interquartile range -2.22 ÷ 2.78ng/ml. In group IV, the caspase-3 level: interquartile range - 1.37 ÷ 2.00 ng/ml, median - 1.76 ng/ml. Assessment of ultrasound findings showed that placental hypoplasia occurred in (46.6 ± 6.4)% in group I and (30 ± 6.4)% in group III. Placental hyperplasia was diagnosed in groups II and III in (20 ± 5.2)% and (26 ± 5.7)% of cases. These data suggest that perinatal viral infections cause a shift of cellular processes in the placenta towards apoptosis, while perinatal bacterial infections activate not only apoptosis, but also the processes of cell proliferation in the placenta, which was manifested in the development of placenta hyperplasia in groups II and III. Increased death of placental cells due to apoptosis can be one of the key points that trigger the process of development of changes in the placenta.