Helicobacter pylori and perinatal pathologies: Pathogen transmission during Childbirth?

Abstract

Perinatal pathologies are diseases that show up during pregnancy until after the boy or girl's birth, up to 28 days of life approximately. Helicobacter pylori infection is more frequent during pregnancy because in this period there is a decrease of the immune response mediated by cytotoxic cells with preservation of innate humoral immunity that causes bacterial activation and consequently a negative impact both for the mother's as well as for the fetus's health. Some of the perinatal pathologies related to this particular infection are: hyperemesis gravidarum, iron-deficiency anemia, restriction of intrauterine growth, spontaneous abortion and preeclampsia. The purpose of this review is to analyze pathologies linked to Helicobacter pylori infection during the pregnancy and find out if this pathogen can be transmitted from the mother to the child. It is concluded that the presence of Helicobacter pylori is considered a risk factor for each one of the aforementioned perinatal pathologies. However, this subject still needs further study, altogether with the potential impact of the pre-conception research and Helicobacter pylori infection eradication during this particular period. Vaginal yeast would be the main reservoir of this microorganism and it would enable its transmission to new-born babies.