Placental mitochondrial DNA copy number is associated with reduced birth weight in women with placental malaria

Placental malaria (PM) causes placental insufficiency, leading to reduced birth weight (BW). Placental mtDNA copy number (mtDNA-CN) and relative telomere length (RTL) have been described as potential biomarkers for placental insufficiency and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). We investigated their associations with BW in women with PM from malaria-endemic region of Papua, Indonesia. MtDNA-CN and RTL were determined in 50 placentas by quantitative real-time PCR. Increased placental mtDNA-CN was associated with reduced BW (coef = −193.71, p = 0.016), particularly in preterm group (coef = −374.21, p < 0.001). RTL did not associate with BW. Increased placental mtDNA-CN indicates a compensatory mechanism to reduced BW in women with PM.