[Primary and recurrent cytomegalovirus infection in pregnancy]

Cytomegalovirus is the most common perinatal viral infection. Congenital cytomegalovirus infection is associated with significant congenital anomalies and long-term sequelae. The incidence of primary and recurrent cytomegalovirus infection in pregnancy is studied in this prospective study. Preliminary annual results of serologic and virologic researches of cytomegalovirus in 224 pregnant women showed that the incidence of seropositive pregnant women was 21.42%. It was estimated by detection of viral antibodies of cytomegalovirus class Ig G. The other pregnant women in this study were seronegative and they showed a high risk of primary cytomegalovirus infection in pregnancy and of congenital infection. By indirect immunofluorescence cytomegalovirus was found in vaginal mucous of 8.03% pregnant women. Primary cytomegalovirus infection (viral antibodies of cytomegalovirus class Ig M) was confirmed in 2.23% of them. In the other 5.80% of pregnant women it was a question of recurrent cytomegalovirus infection. This result indicated that pregnancy was not a statistically significant risk factor for the appearance of primary cytomegalovirus in pregnant women (chi 2 = 0.0329; p > 0.05). However, the pregnancy might be a factor of risk for reactivation of latent cytomegalovirus infection (chi 2 = 9.3023; p < 0.001).