Immunological response in cases of complicated and uncomplicated bartonellosis during pregnancy

Erick Huarcaya1, Ciro Maguina, Ivan Best

  • 1Department of Family & Community Medicine, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001, USA. ehuarcaya@salud.unm.edu

Bartonellosis (Carrion's Disease) during pregnancy is associated with high rates of maternal and perinatal mortality. We report the immunological patterns in two cases of human bartonellosis during pregnancy. One patient had an uncomplicated course while the second patient developed life threatening anasarca and cardiac tamponade. The patient with a complicated course had a Th1 response with a higher elevation of IL-10. This elevation has been associated with poor outcome pregnancies during bacterial infections.

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