Acquisition of antibodies that block adhesion to placental receptor chondroitin sulfate A with increasing gravidity in Malian women.

In malaria-endemic areas, pregnant women are more susceptible to infection, especially primigravidae. During pregnancy, parasites sequester in the placenta and bind to the receptor chondroitin sulfate (CSA). This unique adhesion is mediated by the parasite protein VAR2CSA expressed on the surface of infected erythrocytes (IE).

Pregnancy outcomes in a malaria-exposed Malian cohort of women of child-bearing age.

Unlabelled: In Sub-Saharan Africa, malaria continues to be associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes including stillbirth, early neonatal death, preterm delivery, and low birth weight. Current preventive measures are insufficient and new interventions are urgently needed. However, before such interventions can be tested in pregnant women, background information on pregnancy outcomes in this target population must be collected.