Cytomegalovirus (CMV), a DNA virus that belongs to the Orthoherpesviridae family, infects 40-100% of people. Primary/non-primary CMV infection during pregnancy could cause fetal disabilities. After primary infection, CMV causes a latent infection and resides in cells of the myeloid compartment (CD34+, monocytes). Few studies have analyzed the impact of latent CMV infections on miscarriage history, pregnancy complications, and neonatal outcomes.
Methods: Serum samples from 806 pregnant women (28.29 ± 4.50 years old) who came for a consultation at the Timisoara Clinical Emergency City Hospital between 2008 and 2010 were tested for anti-CMV IgM/IgG antibodies, and data about demography, obstetrical history, pregnancy complications, birth, and neonate were collected. The data were compared between the groups with and without latent CMV infection, and statistical significance was calculated.
Results: We did not find a difference regarding cesarean section (OR = 0.916, p = 0.856), placental abruption (OR = 1.004, p = 1.00), pregnancy-induced hypertension rate (OR = 1.078, p = 1.00), secondary sex ratio (0.882, p = 0.857), APGAR score (p = 0.225), gestational age at birth (p = 0.434), or birth weight (p = 0.365). A borderline significant difference was found regarding the presence of miscarriage history: OR = 8.467, p = 0.051.
Conclusions: The presence of latent CMV infection does not affect the likelihood of complications in healthy women. A borderline significantly higher prevalence of miscarriage history was found in women with latent CMV infection.
Keywords: latent cytomegalovirus; neonate; pregnancy complications; spontaneous abortion.