Childhood adversity, prenatal depression, and maternal inflammation across pregnancy.

BACKGROUND

To examine whether change in neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, a marker of systemic inflammation, differs by childhood adversity and prenatal depression.

METHODS

Prenatal complete blood count data were used to calculate neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio in first and third trimesters. The Adverse Childhood Experiences scale measured childhood adversity, and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 measured depression. This is a secondary analysis of a study of predictors of risk for sleep-disordered breathing.

RESULTS

Participants were 98 pregnant women, mean age 30 years (SD = 5), mean body mass index of 35 kg/m2 (SD = 7), 61% identified as white, and 28% identified as Hispanic. Women who reported childhood sexual abuse history displayed greater increase in neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio over pregnancy relative to women without childhood sexual abuse. Change in neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio across pregnancy did not differ by prenatal depression.

CONCLUSION

Experiences of sexual abuse in childhood may impact markers of systemic inflammation in pregnancy.