Ruolo Del Microbiota Materno Sulla Risposta Immunitaria e Sul Metabolismo Nei Disordini Ipertensivi
Preeclampsia (PE) is a leading cause of maternal-fetal morbidity and mortality, affecting 3-8% of pregnancies and causing over 76,000 maternal deaths annually. PE is characterized by high blood pressure and proteinuria or organ damage/intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). There are two phenotypes: placental PE, caused by abnormal trophoblast invasion, often leading to early pregnancy complications and IUGR, and metabolic PE, associated with maternal metabolic issues like visceral obesity and metabolic syndrome, leading to low-grade inflammation and insulin resistance. Recent research highlights the role of maternal gut microbiota in these conditions, suggesting that gut dysbiosis-altered microbial balance-can influence systemic immune responses and contribute to PE. This study aims to characterize the maternal gut microbiota in the two PE phenotypes to better understand their distinct etiologies and improve prediction and prevention strategies.
• Age \> 18 years
• Singleton pregnancy
• Live fetus at 11-13 weeks of gestation
• Women identified as high-risk during first-trimester screening for preeclampsia and subsequent low risk
• Written Informed Consent