English

Abstract

BACKGROUND We wanted to evaluate seropositivity of IgM specific antibodies to toxoplasma, rubella, cytomegalovirus and herpes simplex virus 2 in antenatal women with bad obstetric history (BOH). METHODS It was a prospective study with subjects in two groups, study and a control group. Antenatal women with bad obstetric history were considered as a study group in which 70 subjects were included and 20 cases of antenatal women without BOH were in the control group. After informed consent, detailed history was noted in the proforma and 5 ml blood was collected aseptically in a vacutainer and serum was separated and subjected for demonstration of IgM antibody detection towards toxoplasma, rubella, cytomegalovirus and herpes simplex virus 2 was detected by ELISA using the commercial kit as per manufacturers’ direction. RESULTS A total of 90 samples were tested. Study group of seventy (70) samples and control group of 20 from antenatal women. BOH history among the study group common was repeated abortion alone or in combination with others followed by intrauterine death alone or in combination. In the study group, IgM seropositivity was observed as follows with toxoplasma in 1(1.43 %), HSV2 in 4 (5.71 %) and equivocal in 7.14 %. No antibody was detected towards rubella and CMV. The control group showed IgM seropositivity of 5 % each for CMV and HSV-2 and equivocal results were noted in 10 % of cases for HSV-2. Seropositivity towards the pathogens was mainly observed in the younger age group of 21-25 years, HSV-2 seropositivity was observed in 18-20 years of age. The seropositivity to Toxoplasma was observed in the second trimester (13-24 weeks) and HSV-2 in the third trimester (25 to 36 + weeks). CONCLUSIONS All antenatal women with BOH should be routinely screened for TORCH infections so that early diagnosis and appropriate intervention will help in the proper management of these cases. KEY WORDS TORCH Infections; Bad Obstetric History (BOH); IgM Specific ELISA