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Maternal Lyme disease and congenital heart disease: A case-control study in an endemic area

B Strobino1, S Abid, M Gewitz

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, New York Medical College-Westchester County Medical Center, Valhalla, New York, USA.

American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
|March 17, 1999
PubMed

Insights

Maternal Lyme disease or tick bites during pregnancy do not increase the risk of congenital heart defects in newborns. This study found no association between Lyme disease exposure and cardiac anomalies in infants.

Area of Science:

  • Medical research
  • Epidemiology
  • Public health

Background:

  • Lyme disease is a tick-borne illness that can affect pregnant women.
  • Congenital heart defects are a significant concern in pediatric cardiology.
  • The potential impact of maternal infections on fetal development is a critical area of study.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between maternal Lyme disease and the risk of congenital heart defects (CHDs) in offspring.
  • To determine if tick bites or clinical Lyme disease during preconception or pregnancy poses a risk for CHDs.

Main Methods:

  • A retrospective case-control study was conducted.
  • Case patients were children diagnosed with congenital cardiac anomalies (n=796).
  • Control subjects were children without cardiac defects (n=704).
  • Maternal histories of tick bites and Lyme disease were collected via questionnaire.
  • Unconditional logistic regression analysis was used to assess the relationship.

Main Results:

  • No statistically significant association was found between maternal tick bite and CHDs (aOR=1.1, 95% CI 0.5-2.5).
  • No significant association was observed between maternal Lyme disease (within 3 months of conception or during pregnancy) and CHDs (aOR=0.9, 95% CI 0.2-3.6).

Conclusions:

  • Maternal tick bites during or before pregnancy do not elevate the risk of congenital heart defects.
  • Treatment for Lyme disease during or before pregnancy is not associated with an increased risk of CHDs in newborns.
Abstract

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