Endothelial – The final frontier to reduce preterm birth and death from sepsis

Endothelial – The final frontier to reduce preterm birth and death from sepsis Each year, around 15 million babies are born prematurely, with nearly one million dying soon after due to complications. Maternal mortality remains high, particularly in low-resource settings. This article describes how assessing endothelial integrity and function could help identify at-risk pregnancies to prevent adverse outcomes. Adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes remain among the deadliest and most persistent global health challenges. Each year, approximately 15 million babies are born prematurely, and nearly one million die shortly after birth due to complications of prematurity. (1, 2) Neonatal sepsis, particularly in preterm infants, is a leading cause of death in the first weeks of life. Furthermore, maternal mortality remains unacceptably high, with 260,000 women dying during and following pregnancy and childbirth. Most (92%) of these maternal deaths occurred in low-resource settings and could have been prevented. (3) Together, preterm birth and sepsis account for millions of maternal and neonatal deaths worldwide. Despite advances in obstetric and neonatal care, these conditions continue to pose a major public health burden. (4, 5)