Low-dose aspirin could help prevent pregnancy complications caused by flu infections

Posted on: 03 July 2024

A world-first study has found low-dose aspirin may treat flu-induced blood vessel inflammation, creating better blood flow to the placenta during pregnancy. Animal studies examined whether the treatment for preeclampsia could be applied to flu infections – and the results, according to the research team, were very promising.

The study - a collaboration between Trinity College Dublin, Royal Melbourne Institute (RMIT), Australia and University of South Australia - has been published in the journal Frontiers in Immunology. 

Explaining the importance of the research and why flu infection is dangerous during pregnancy, Professor John O’Leary, School of Medicine, Trinity College and co-author said the research findings had huge implications for pregnancy and seasonal influenza virus infections for pregnant people, and said:

“This study shines a light, for the first time, on the role of vascular inflammation associated with influenza virus and the potential dramatic effect of the disease-modifying drug aspirin, in low dosage, in pregnant women with co-morbid influenza.”

Co-author and RMIT Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, Dr Stella Liong, said flu infections during pregnancy can resemble preeclampsia, a pregnancy complication that causes inflammation to the aorta and blood vessels. Low-dose aspirin is commonly taken to prevent preeclampsia, as it stops the body from creating chemicals that cause inflammation. She said:

“When the vascular system is inflamed, it leads to poor blood flow and affects the aorta’s function. This is especially a problem during pregnancy where good blood flow to the placenta is crucial to the development of the fetus."

The research found fetuses and placenta from mice with influenza A were smaller than those from uninfected mice. Markers of low oxygen to the blood and poor blood vessel development were also evident in the fetuses. However, mice treated daily with low-dose aspirin had less inflammation and improved fetal development and offspring survival.

While the research was still awaiting human clinical trials, researchers said low-dose aspirin was already recognised as safe to take during pregnancy.

However, the research team recommended pregnant people seek medical advice before taking new medications.

Co-author Professor Doug Brooks, University of South Australia said influenza A infections during pregnancy was a big concern as every pregnancy overlaps with part of a flu season. He commented:

“There are long term implications for both the mother and the fetus, and aspirin might provide a simple solution for preventing this influenza associated pathology."

While there were not many studies of the impacts of flu infections during pregnancy, researchers said it was clear that pregnancy changed how the body responded to the virus.

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