Pregnancy Outcome in Maternal Toxoplasmosis: A Case Control Study

Objective: To evaluate seroprevalence of Toxoplasma infection in antenatal patients with Bad Obstetric History and the pregnancy outcome in the infected women. Method: A prospective case control study was done on one hundred and seventy four women with Bad Obstetric History (cases; Group1) against one hundred and six antenatal women with normal obstetric history (controls; Group 2). Their sera sample was subjected to ELISA test for Toxoplasma IgG and IgM antibodies estimation at their first antenatal visit. All these patients were followed and their pregnancy outcome was noted. Results: Seropositivity for Toxoplasma IgG antibodies was 43 percent, that for IgM antibodies was 25 percent and that for both IgG and IgM antibodies was 14.4 percent in Group 1. Adverse pregnancy outcome in the form of abortions were found in 50%, preterm delivery in 4.2%, Intra-uterine deaths in 9.7%, congenitally malformed babies in 3.5% and neonatal death in 0.7% while 31.3% had term deliveries. Conclusion: Seropositivity of IgG and IgM Toxoplasma antibodies was significantly higher in women with Bad Obstetric History (p < 0.01). Toxoplasmosis occurring in ongoing pregnancy leads to adverse outcome