Development of a Dengue Vaccine and Its Use in Pregnant Women

Abstract

Purpose of Review: This article discusses dengue virus infection, its effects on mothers and their infants during pregnancy, and the significant issues regarding the development of a safe and effective vaccine against dengue virus for administration to pregnant women. Recent Findings: The risk of pregnant women acquiring dengue virus infection is a rising concern due to the broader geographical distribution of this mosquito-borne flaviviral infection. Several studies have suggested that maternal infection with dengue during pregnancy is associated with a higher risk of severe dengue as well as adverse pregnancy outcomes and maternal and infant mortality. For this reason, both pregnant women as well as non-pregnant women of reproductive age living in endemic areas are important target groups for vaccination against dengue virus. However, similar to many other viral illnesses, there are no current clinical studies on candidate vaccines for dengue infection that include pregnant women as an experimental group. Summary: Dengue virus infection displays a very broad clinical spectrum ranging from asymptomatic infection to non-complex febrile disease and, in a minority of cases, a severe hemorrhagic disease characterized by a life-threatening refractory hypovolemic shock. Several studies suggest that dengue infection during pregnancy is associated with a higher risk of severe dengue and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Conclusion: Despite the risk of obstetric complications in pregnant women due to infection with dengue virus infection, there is currently no specific treatment or licensed vaccine for use during pregnancy.