[Pregnancy and malaria. Study of 143 cases in French Guyana].

Malaria is the most frequent infection world wide affecting pregnant women. The association of malaria and pregnancy sometimes has serious repercussions on the foetus and increases maternal morbidity. We report 143 cases of pregnant women infected by Plasmodium falciparum in French Guyana. The consequences on the fetus in this area, where the maternal premunition rate is low, are serious: the rates of prematurity, hypotrophy and stillbirth are 3 times higher among pregnant women infected by malaria. The consequences for the fetus are all more serious if the infestation is repeated or prolonged, the closer one is to delivery, and if the parity is low. The histologic study of the placenta shows a significant correlation between the placental infection and the fetal hypotrophy. We tried to detect in utero the consequences malaria infection has on the fetus: the presence of an echographic oligoamnios and alterations of the Doppler ratings would be predictive of deleterious consequences of malaria on the fetus. We emphasize the need for rapid treatment as soon as the attack begins, before serious placental lesions occur.