[Predictive value of non-specific signs of fetal infection in congenital toxoplasmosis].
OBJECTIVE
To study the predictive value of 9 non-specific signs for congenital toxoplasmosis.


METHODS
The work was carried out as a prospective study comparing non-specific signs in 22 fetuses infected with toxoplasmosis and 59 fetuses free of the disease.


RESULTS
Four of the nine parameters were found to be statistically higher in the group of infected fetuses. These are the level of leucocytes (p < 0.05) gamma glutamyl transferase (p < 0.001) total M immunoglobulin (p < 0.0001) and C4 fraction of complement (p < 0.0001). This last sign which is non-specific for infection has never been looked at until now in congenital toxoplasmosis but is seems to be of great importance because its sensitivity is much greater than of all the other parameters that have been used up till now (81%) and the positive predictive value is excellent (72%). On the other hand the value of a raised leucocyte count is a matter for discussion.


CONCLUSIONS
The presence of even one abnormally raised feature in the fetal blood of these non-specific signs is enough to screen for a population which is of high risk for congenital toxoplasmosis and sufficient to change our attitude to treating the condition.
Berrebi
A
A
Services de Gynécologie-Obstétrique A, B, C, CHU La Grave, Toulouse.
Cohen-Khallas
Y
Y
Bessières
M H
MH
Rolland
M
M
Sarramon
M F
MF
Fournié
A
A
D003181:Complement C4 / Q000737:chemistry; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry*; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014125:Toxoplasmosis, Congenital / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood
D003181:Complement C4; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase
Valeur prédictive des signes non spécifiques d'infection foetale dans la toxoplasmose congénitale.