Frequency of seroprevalence of cytomegalovirus infection in pregnant women in Bulgaria and its importance for the future development of pregnancy
Bulgarian Medical Journal, 2024, 18(3), 36-39.
K. Neykova1,2, I. Shikova1,2, Yana Hristova1, G. Dimitrov1, I. Kostov1
1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, State University Hospital “Maychin Dom”
2 “Skikova Medical” Medical Center
Abstract. The identification and diagnosis of the type of cytomegalovirus (CMV-) infection in the early pregnancy stages could prevent the delivery of newborns at a high risk for the future development of neurological damage. Materials and methods: Throughout the period between August, 2023 and July, 2024 we studied the CMV-IgM and CMV-IgG antibody levels in the venous blood of 116 patients in their Ist and IInd trimesters of pregnancy. In case of positive CMV-IgM and CMV-IgG antibodies, we further analysed the avidity towards CMV-IgG antibodies, in order to prove the presence of an acute primary CMV-infection. Results: 29.3% (34/116) of the patients were negative for CMV-IgM and CMV-IgG antibodies. 69.8% (81/116) pregnant patients proved to be with latent CMV-infection (they were negative for CMV-IgM antibodies and positive for CMV- IgG antibodies. One patient – 0.9% (1/116), was with laboratory evidence for an acute primary CMV-infection in her late IInd trimester of pregnancy (with levels of IgM = 45.8 IU/ml, IgG = 119 IU/ml, and avidity levels of 21.7%). Conclusion: Pregnancy management needs to be modified in the future so as to prevent acute primary CMV-infection in the early stages of pregnancy. However, routine CMV-testing in the Ist trimester is usually not recommended in the absence of high-risk factors.
Key words: cytomegalovirus infection, pregnancy, IgM-antibodies, IgG-antibodies, avidity
Address for correspondence: Konstantsa Krassimirova Neykova, MD, e-mail: neykovaconstantsa@yahoo.com