Increased Abortion Rate Research Articles

Perinatal risk associated with maternal genital herpes simplex virus infection

In a series of 283 women with cytologically detected genital herpes during pregnancy or at the first postpartum visit, there was an increased abortion rate in the group of 39 with detection during the first 20 weeks of gestation and an increased prematurity rate in the group of 101 with detection after 20 weeks. These rates were especially high when there was clinical and/or serologic evidence of primary genital herpes. No fetal or neonatal effects were discerned in the group of 43 women with postpartum detection. The over-all risk of neonatal herpes in association with maternal infection occurring after 32 weeks was 10 per cent, being higher in primary cases. When the virus is present at delivery, this risk appears to be at least 40 per cent if the infant is not delivered abdominally before or within 4 hours of membrane rupture. Some guidelines in obstetric management, particularly with respect to the use of abdominal delivery, are suggested.

SPERM-AGGLUTINATING ANTIBODIES AND DECREASED FERTILITY IN PROSTITUTES

Forty-eight prostitutes were studied for the presence of sperm-agglutinating antibodies. Thirty-five, or 72.7%, were positive. A control group of 25 unmarried women had a 20% incidence of reactions. The specificity of the microagglutination test is discussed. No false positive reactions have occurred from pH, dilution effects, or washing technics used in our procedure. The test reaction is related to seminal plasma-coating antigen. Prostitutes have a poor reproductive history and a high incidence of abortion. Our data suggest a relationship between circulating antibody titers and decreased fertility, but no relationship to increased abortion rate. Tissue-fixed antibodies are demonstrated in cervical and endometrial tissue of 5 prostitutes with circulating antibody titer. The significance of this finding is discussed.