Gut Microbiota Dysbiosis in Patients with Preeclampsia: A Systematic Review

Abstract Currently, the etiology of preeclampsia (PE) has not been comprehensively clarified. Accumulating evidence indicated that gut microbiota is associated with the onset of PE. Herein, a systematic review was conducted to explore the dysbiosis of gut microbiota in PE patients compared with healthy controls (HCs). Publications were retrieved from Medline, EMBASE, Web of Science and Scopus. Studies comparing the gut microbiota in PE patients to HCs using culture-independent methods were included. Independent quality assessment and data extraction was performed according to PRISMA statement and Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). In total, six studies with an overall sample size of 416 ​PE patients and 704 ​HCs were included. In terms of alpha- and beta-diversity, consistent results reflecting the alteration of gut microbiota in PE patients. Furthermore, Fusobacterium and Ruminococcus enriched, while Lachnospira, Akkermansia, Faecalibacterium, Bifidobacterium and Alistipes were depleted in PE. This systematic review demonstrates significant dysbiosis of gut microbiota in PE patients and confirms that that the possible correlations between gut microbiota dysbiosis and PE onset. However, heterogeneity in results was also identified, alluding more well-designed studies are warranted. Above all, these evidence demonstrates that the gut microbiota may be a potential treatment and prevention target for PE.