01330nas a2200301 4500000000100000008004100001260001300042653001000055653001700065653002200082653001100104653001100115653001100126653001100137653002100148653002000169653001200189653001500201653001300216653001400229653004000243100001500283245009200298300001000390490000700400520060700407022001401014 1980 d c1980 Jun10aAdult10aBirth Weight10aChild Development10aFemale10aGrowth10aHumans10aInfant10aInfant Mortality10aInfant, Newborn10aleprosy10aOrgan Size10aPlacenta10aPregnancy10aPregnancy Complications, Infectious1 aDuncan M E00aBabies of mothers with leprosy have small placentae, low birth weights and grow slowly. a471-90 v873 a

One hundred and sixteen women with leprosy and 31 healthy controls were studied throughout 155 pregnancies, and their babies were observed for a period of up to two years. Babies of mothers with leprosy weighed less than those of healthy mothers; the placental weights and coefficients followed the same trend. The babies of the mothers with leprosy grew more slowly than those of the healthy mothers and these findings were most marked in the babies of mothers with lepromatous leprosy. The cause of the reduced feto-placental weight is thought to be related to the immune status of the mother.

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