The Association of Tuberculosis Mono-infection and Tuberculosis-Human Immunodeficiency Virus (TB-HIV) Co-infection in the Pathogenesis of Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy

Purpose of Review This review highlights the impact of TB mono-infection and TB-HIV co-infection on the pathogenesis of adverse maternal outcomes such as hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) and adverse fetal outcomes such as recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA), fetal growth restriction (FGR), and low birth weight. Recent Findings Research has shown that HDP, such as severe pre-eclampsia (PE) and eclampsia, as well as adverse fetal outcomes such as recurrent spontaneous abortion, fetal growth restriction, and low birth weight, are higher in women diagnosed with TB mono-infection and even higher in TB-HIV co-infection compared to those without TB. This is speculated to occur due to exaggerated activation of both angiogenic factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), nitric oxide (NO), angiotensin 2, (Ang 2), intracellular adhesion molecules (ICAMs), and inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin 2 (IL-2), (IL-17), and interferon-gamma (INF-gamma). There is a lack of information with regard to the pathogenesis of adverse maternal and fetal outcomes upon TB mono-infection and TB-HIV co-infection; therefore, further investigations on the impact of TB mono-infection and TB-HIV co-infection on adverse maternal and fetal outcomes are urgently needed. This will assist in improving diagnostic procedures in pregnant women affected with TB as wells as TB-HIV co-infection.