CYTOMEGALOVIRUS INFECTION AND RECURRENT PREGNANCY LOSS IN JOS, PLATEAU STATE

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The foetal consequences of CMV infection have made it one of the most serious infections contracted during pregnancy. Recurrent pregnancy loss is a challenging problem for the obstetrician. Human cytomegalovirus is a major cause of congenital infection and has been implicated as a cause of pregnancy loss. Knowledge about the magnitude of this problem in our locality will help in developing methods of prevention of this infection which will eventually improve obstetric outcome.OBJECTIVE: The objective was to compare the prevalence of CMV infection among women with recurrent pregnancy loss and normal postnatal women.
DESIGN: It was a case control study.
METHODOLOGY: The study involved 42 women presenting with recurrent miscarriage and 42 postpartum women with no adverse obstetric outcome. Subjects were recruited from JUTH, Plateau State Specialist Hospital and Faith Alive Hospital. A semi-structured researcher administered questionnaire was used to obtain socio-demographic infor- mation. Blood samples were collected from the respondents and cytomegalovirus antibodies (IgG and IgM) were assayed for in both groups. Data was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 22.Test of association was done using t test, Fisher Exact test and chi square.

RESULTS/CONCLUSION: The seroprevalence of CMV IgG among women with recurrent miscarriage and normal postpartum women was 85.7% and 76.2% respectively. There was no significant association between CMV infection and recurrent miscarriage. An incidental finding was that the level of awareness of the respondents about CMV was very poor (4.8%). Due to the high seroprevalence of CMV in the study, all pregnant women should be educated about CMV and the methods of prevention of CMV infection. There’s however insufficient evidence from this study linking CMV infection and recurrent miscarriage.

CYTOMEGALOVIRUS INFECTION AND RECURRENT PREGNANCY LOSS IN JOS, PLATEAU STATE