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Screening cytomegalovirus, rubella and toxoplasma infections in pregnant women with unknown pre-pregnancy serological status

  • Maternal-Fetal Medicine
  • Published:
Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

To determine the prevalence of acute cytomegalovirus (CMV), rubella and T. gondii infections among pregnant women who had no serological status tested for these microorganisms prior to pregnancy in a metropolitan area.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was undertaken between January 2009 and January 2013 in 1,258 women presenting for their first antenatal visit (between 6 and 11 weeks of gestation). All women were tested for IgG and IgM antibodies. Subsequently, avidity test was utilized for inconclusive results. They were followed until delivery and all newborns were examined by a pediatrician.

Results

Presence of IgM antibody positivity alone was not detected in any women. Avidity test excluded primary infection in 15 out of 16 (93.7 %) women who were positive for both IgG and IgM antibodies. Amniocentesis was performed in one case with borderline IgG avidity for T. gondii. No primary infections were detected in any newborn for the infections screened. The prevalences of IgG antibodies were 95 % for rubella, 84.1 % for CMV and 23.1 % for T. gondii.

Conclusions

Assessment of IgG and IgM antibodies followed by IgG avidity testing for inconclusive results may be an acceptable approach in pregnant women with unknown serological status prior to pregnancy. Utilization of IgG avidity as a supplemental test prevented unnecessary intervention in IgG and IgM antibodies positive patients. No primary infection was detected for CMV, rubella and T. gondii infections in the urban population screened.

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Conflict of interest

All the authors declares that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Ota-Jinemed Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey

    Meric Karacan, Melike Batukan, Ziya Çebi, Munip Berberoglugil, Semra Levent, Mustafa Kır, Alpaslan Baksu, Emine Ozel & Teksen Camlıbel

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  1. Meric Karacan
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  2. Melike Batukan
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Correspondence to Meric Karacan.

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Karacan, M., Batukan, M., Çebi, Z. et al. Screening cytomegalovirus, rubella and toxoplasma infections in pregnant women with unknown pre-pregnancy serological status. Arch Gynecol Obstet 290, 1115–1120 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-014-3340-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-014-3340-3

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