Low Maternal Immunoglobulin G Avidity and Single Parity as Adverse Implications of Human Cytomegalovirus Vertical Transmission in Pregnant Women with Immunoglobulin M Positivity.

Human cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the leading cause of neurological sequelae in infants. Understanding the risk factors of primary CMV infection is crucial in establishing preventive strategies. Thus, we conducted a retrospective cohort study to identify risk factors of vertical transmission among pregnant women with immunoglobulin (Ig) M positivity.

A multiple regression model for predicting a high cytomegalovirus immunoglobulin G avidity level in pregnant women with IgM positivity.

Objective: To establish a model to predict high cytomegalovirus (CMV) immunoglobulin (Ig)G avidity index (AI) using clinical information, to contribute to the mental health of CMV-IgM positive pregnant women.

Methods: We studied 371 women with IgM positivity at ≤14 w of gestation. Information on the age, parity, occupation, clinical signs, IgM and G values, and IgG AI was collected.

Maternal immunoglobulin G avidity as a diagnostic tool to identify pregnant women at risk of congenital cytomegalovirus infection.

Background: The immunoglobulin (Ig) G avidity index (AI) is useful to detect primary cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection. However, because IgG matures with time, this index is not useful to detect a primary infection, unless measured at an appropriate time.

Objectives: We aimed to clarify the difference between using IgG AI and IgM positivity according to the stage of pregnancy to identify congenital CMV infection risk.

Rubella outbreak on Tokunoshima Island in 2004: a population-based study of pregnant women.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to clarify the risk of rubella infection for pregnant women in the outbreak area.

Material & Methods: We performed a retrospective, population-based study on all 232 pregnant women during the rubella outbreak period in Tokunoshima Island. All women had a rubella hemagglutination inhibition (HI) titer drawn during their current pregnancy.

Clinical importance of cytomegalovirus antigenemia for intrauterine cytomegalovirus infection.

Background: Little is known about the clinical importance of cytomegalovirus (CMV) antigenemia for intrauterine-CMV-infected newborns. The aims of the present study were to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of CMV antigenemia during the neonatal period and its association with clinical manifestations.

Methods: CMV antigenemia was analyzed using neonatal blood from 25 patients suspected of having intrauterine infection because of abnormal clinical manifestations in the mother, fetus, and newborn.

Rubella outbreak on Tokunoshima Island in 2004: serological and epidemiological analysis of pregnant women with rubella.

Aim: This paper presents the serological and epidemiological background of the rubella-infected pregnant women following the rubella outbreak throughout Tokunoshima Island that occurred after the revision of the immunization law in Japan.

Methods: Twelve of 149 pregnant women managed in Miyagami Hospital were enrolled as having a high risk for congenital rubella infection. They were interviewed about their immunization history with rubella vaccine, the presence of rash, onset of rash, and the presence and timing of contact with rubella-infected patients.