Perinatal inflammation, fetal growth restriction, and long-term neurodevelopmental impairment in Bangladesh

Background

There are limited data on the impact of perinatal inflammation on child neurodevelopment in low-middle income countries and among growth-restricted infants.

Methods

Population-based, prospective birth cohort study of 288 infants from July 2016–March 2017 in Sylhet, Bangladesh. Umbilical cord blood was analyzed for interleukin(IL)-1α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and C-reactive protein(CRP). Child neurodevelopment was assessed at 24 months with Bayley-III Scales of Infant Development. We determined associations between cord blood inflammation and neurodevelopmental outcomes, controlling for potential confounders.

Results

248/288 (86%) live born infants were followed until 24 months, among whom 8.9% were preterm and 45.0% small-for-gestational-age(SGA) at birth. Among all infants, elevated concentrations (>75%) of CRP and IL-6 at birth were associated with increased odds of fine motor delay at 24 months; elevated CRP was also associated with lower receptive communication z-scores. Among SGA infants, elevated IL-1α was associated with cognitive delay, IL-8 with language delay, CRP with lower receptive communication z-scores, and IL-1β with lower expressive communication and motor z-scores.

Conclusions

In rural Bangladesh, perinatal inflammation was associated with impaired neurodevelopment at 24 months. The associations were strongest among SGA infants and noted across several biomarkers and domains, supporting the neurobiological role of inflammation in adverse fetal development, particularly in the setting of fetal growth restriction.

Impact

Cord blood inflammation was associated with fine motor and language delays at 24 months of age in a community-based cohort in rural Bangladesh.

23.4 million infants are born small-for-gestational-age (SGA) globally each year. Among SGA infants, the associations between cord blood inflammation and adverse outcomes were strong and consistent across several biomarkers and neurodevelopmental domains (cognitive, motor, language), supporting the neurobiological impact of inflammation prominent in growth-restricted infants.

Prenatal interventions to prevent intrauterine growth restriction are needed in low- and middle-income countries and may also result in long-term benefits on child development.