Cytomegalovirus,Toxoplasma gondii and rubella vertical transmission rates according to mid‑trimester amniocentesis: A retrospective study

Objective: to examine vertical transmission rates of cytomegalovirus,toxoplasma gondii and rubella infections according to amniotic fluid pcr analysis. methods: a retrospective analysis of mid-trimester amniocenteses performed in in pregnancies with diagnosed maternal infection by cytomegavirus (cmv),rubella or toxoplasma gondii during 1994-2008 was performed. vertical transmission rates were observed according to the presence of the infectious agent’s dna in the amniotic fluid. a univariate regression model was also performed to investigate possible correlations between transmission and epidemiological parameters. results: overall,7033 amniocenteses were performed during study’s period,of which 166 (2.4%) with the indication of maternal infection by cmv,rubella or toxoplasma. mean maternal age was 27.4 ± 2.5 years and the mean gestational age at amniocentesis was 18.7 ± 2.5 weeks. vertical transmission was observed in 21 cases (12.7%). transmission rate was 17.3% in cases with infection from cmv,9.5% from toxoplasma gondii and 7.8% from rubella (p =.05). maternal age was the only parameter being significantly associated with increased risk for vertical transmission (p =.04). conclusions: according to our results,overall vertical transmission rate marginally exceeds 10%. cmv infection is characterized by relatively higher transplacental transmission rate,while increased maternal age appears to be associated with a higher risk for vertical transmission. © 2015 margioula-siarkou c..