Seroprevalence of CMV and Rubella in Women with Recurrent Spontaneous Abortion in Comparison with Normal Delivery

Background & Objectives: Recurrent spontaneous abortion occurs by different etiological causes including viral infections. Cytomegalovirus and rubella infections can cause or promote the recurrent fetal loss. Cytomegalovirus is one of the important viral infections which may play a role in recurrent spontaneous abortion. Also, rubella virus infection can induce abortion especially in the first trimester of pregnancy. Thus, in this study the prevalence of anti-cytomegalovirus and rubella IgG antibody are measured in both pregnant women with and without recurrent spontaneous abortion. Materials & Methods: A case-control study was carried out on 120 women who had a history of unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion and 120 pregnant women with normal delivery as controls. Serum samples from each group were collected and anti-cytomegalovirus and rubella IgG antibody were assayed by ELISA methods. Results: Anti-cytomegalovirus antibody was diagnosed in 94 and 75 of each group of patients or controls respectively. The Significant differences are as follows (P=0.007 OR=2.17 95%CI=1.18-4.00). Also, Anti-rubella antibody was diagnosed in 90 and 65 of 120 patients or controls, respectively. The significant differences are (P=0.00004 OR=3.00 95% CI=1.69-5.33) when compared with each other. Conclusion: Based on the high prevalence of cytomegalovirus and rubella infection in our community, especially in pregnant women, also according to this study, the significant differences were found between the prevalence of these viruses in pregnant women with recurrent abortion and pregnant women without the history of abortion. To reach to a concrete conclusion, further studies with larger population should be carried out.