SERODIAGNOSIS OF RUBELLA, CYTOMEGALOVIRUS AND HERPES SIMPLEX VIRUS TYPE -2 AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN WITH A HISTORY OF HABITUAL ABORTION

Abstract

Habitual abortion is a serious problem affecting I% of all women. HCMV, RV and HSV -2 are the most common viral infections associated with habitual abortion. HCMV is the most common congenital infection world wide, with approximately I% of all new born infected in utero. The over all mortality of infants in congenital rubella syndrome is 5- 35%, spontaneous abortions occur in 4-9% and still birth in 2-3% of pregnancy complicated by maternal rubella. The rate of vertical transmission of HSV -2 is estimated between 50-75% with possibility of fetal death exceeds 50%.

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The present study was designated to investigate the presence ofHCMV, RV and HSV -2 (IgG & IgM) antibodies in the maternal sera in women with a history of habitual abortion. HCMV, RV and HSV -2 (IgG & lgM) antibodies were investigated using ELISA technique in 70 women aged (20-45years) with a history of habitual abortion and 20 normal pregnant women of the same age group who were taken as control group.

The following results were obtained:

I) 98% of cases were seropositive for HCMV lgG antibodies compared with 90% of controls and 23% of cases were seropositive for HCMV IgM antibodies compared with 20% of controls.

2) Rubella virus IgG antibodies were seropositive in 94% of cases compared with 80% of controls while rubella virus lgM antibodies were seropositive in 1.14% of cases compared with 5% of controls, with high absorption readings in case group which indicate high levels of viral activity index.

3) HSV -2 lgG antibodies were seropositive in I 00% of cases compared with 90% of controls while HSV -2 IgM antibodies were seropositive in 90% of cases compared with 95% of controls.

4) The lgG for the three agents were found in 94.28% of cases compared with 80% of controls which means that the accumulation of factors increase the chance for habitual abortion. While The lgM for the three agents were found in I 0% of cases compared with 5% of controls.

5) It is concluded that we are in need for preventive strategies such as universal vaccination to avoid such infection during pregnancy and hence reduce the incidence of habitual abortion.