Cause of fetal growth restriction during high-altitude pregnancy

Emily R Brown; Dino A Giussani

doi:10.1016/j.isci.2024.109702

Cause of fetal growth restriction during high-altitude pregnancy

iScience. 2024 Apr 8;27(5):109702. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109702. eCollection 2024 May 17.

Authors

Emily R Brown¹, Dino A Giussani^{1

2

3

4}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Physiology, Development & Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
² Centre for Trophoblast Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
³ Cambridge Strategic Research Initiative in Reproduction.
⁴ Cambridge Cardiovascular Centre for Research Excellence.

Abstract

High-altitude pregnancy increases the incidence of fetal growth restriction and reduces birth weight. This poses a significant clinical challenge as both are linked to adverse health outcomes, including raised infant mortality and the development of the metabolic syndrome in later life. While this reduction in birth weight is mostly understood to be driven by the hypobaric hypoxia of high altitude, the causative mechanism is unclear. Moreover, it is now recognized that highland ancestry confers protection against this reduction in birth weight. Here, we analyze the evidence that pregnancy at high altitude reduces birth weight and that highland ancestry confers protection, discussing mechanisms contributing to both effects.

Keywords: Female reproductive endocrinology; Reproductive medicine; Women's health.