A groundbreaking study has discovered that low-dose aspirin could help address flu-induced inflammation in blood vessels, leading to improved blood flow to the placenta during pregnancy.
Research conducted on animals explored the potential application of preeclampsia treatment to flu infections, with the results showing great promise according to the research team.
Dr. Stella Liong, the lead researcher and RMIT Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, highlighted the similarity between flu infections during pregnancy and preeclampsia, a condition that triggers inflammation in the aorta and blood vessels.
Low-dose aspirin, commonly used to prevent preeclampsia, works by inhibiting the body from producing inflammatory chemicals.
Dr. Liong explained, “Inflammation in the vascular system leads to poor blood flow, particularly critical during pregnancy when adequate blood flow to the placenta is essential for fetal development.”
The study, led by RMIT University in collaboration with Professor John O’Leary from Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, and Professor Doug Brooks from the University of South Australia, observed that fetuses and placentas from mice infected with influenza A were smaller compared to those from uninfected mice.
Signs of low oxygen levels in the blood and inadequate blood vessel formation were also noted in the infected mice’s fetuses.
However, mice treated daily with low-dose aspirin exhibited reduced inflammation, enhanced fetal development, and improved survival rates of offspring.
Although human clinical trials were still pending, Dr. Liong affirmed the safety of low-dose aspirin during pregnancy.
The research team recommended pregnant individuals to seek medical advice before starting any new medications.
Professor Brooks expressed concern regarding the impact of influenza A infections during pregnancy, given the overlapping of flu season with pregnancy periods.
“There are significant implications for both mothers and fetuses, and aspirin could offer a straightforward solution to prevent complications associated with influenza,” stated Brooks.
Why flu infection is dangerous during pregnancy
Professor O’Leary emphasized the significant implications of the research findings on pregnancy and seasonal influenza infections in pregnant women.
“For the first time, this study sheds light on the role of vascular inflammation linked to the influenza virus and the potentially profound effect of low-dose aspirin as a disease-modifying drug for pregnant women with concurrent influenza,” said O’Leary.
While there is limited research on the effects of flu infections during pregnancy, project lead Professor Stavros Selemidis from RMIT highlighted the altered response of the body to the virus during pregnancy.
Prior research by Liong and Selemidis revealed that the flu virus during pregnancy could trigger an aggressive immune response, leading to the virus spreading from the lungs through the bloodstream.
Selemidis noted, “Previously, we believed the flu virus remained in the lungs, but during pregnancy, it can disseminate throughout the body, potentially increasing the risk of cardiovascular issues for both the mother and the child later in life.”
While vaccination remains the primary method to prevent flu infections during pregnancy, Selemidis pointed out the generally low vaccination rates among pregnant individuals.
“Given the suboptimal immune response generated by flu vaccination, particularly in pregnant individuals or those with underlying medical conditions, having low-dose aspirin as a potential supplement to prevent vascular issues during pregnancy and enhance fetal development is significant,” Selemidis explained.
