Prior pregnancy and antenatal rubella sero-negativity-evidence of persistent maternal immunologic alteration?

Abstract

Problem: It is unclear if the immunologic alterations induced by pregnancy could persist.

Method of study: Antenatal rubella sero-negativity was correlated with gravidity, abortions and parity in 112 083 gravidae managed during 1997-2015, with further analysis stratified for factors known to influence rubella serology.

Results: The 10.2% sero-negative gravidae had different characteristics, and the incidence showed significant difference and positive trend (P<.001 for both) with gravidity, abortions and parity. The pattern remained consistent when analysis was stratified for advanced age, high body mass index and medical history, but was negated by hepatitis B virus infection except for abortions, and by high body mass index for parity. For gravidity 2-4, no difference in rubella sero-negativity was found between gravidae with all previous pregnancies ended in abortion vs delivery.

Conclusion: Prior pregnancies diminished rubella immunity in a dose-dependent manner, which may be a reflection of the cumulative effect of pregnancy-associated maternal immunologic alteration.

Keywords: abortion; gravidity; maternal immunology; parity; rubella serology.