title: Maternal IgG avidity and IgM detected by blot as diagnostic tools to identify pregnant women at risk of transmitting cytomegalovirus.
abstract: In this study, we determined the avidity index (AI) of anticytomegalovirus (CMV) immunoglobulin G (IgG) and the anti-CMV immunoglobulin M (IgM) profile in 124 pregnant women, 87 of whom were considered at risk of transmitting CMV infection to their offspring and 37 of whom were at no risk. IgG avidity and blot for IgM were performed on two serum samples from each woman, at 6-18 weeks' gestation and at 20-23 weeks' gestation. Pregnancy outcomes were monitored. The results obtained showed that the determination of anti-CMV IgG avidity at 6-18 weeks' gestation can identify all women who would have an infected fetus/newborn (100% sensitivity), whereas IgM detected by blot had poorer results (69% sensitivity). Interestingly, at 20-23 weeks' gestation, the sensitivity of IgM detection by blot was higher than that obtained by avidity (75 % and 63%, respectively) and the combination of IgG avidity and IgM by blot yielded the best results (81% sensitivity).
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Medical School-St. Orsola General Hospital, University of Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lazzarotto
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Varani
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Spezzacatena
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gabrielli
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pradelli
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Guerra
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Landini
mesh_terms: D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D000915:Antibody Affinity; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000276:immunology*; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000151:congenital* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000635:transmission*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D011264:Pregnancy Trimesters; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M