title: Fetal toxoplasmosis and negative amniocentesis: necessity of an ultrasound follow-up.
abstract: Prenatal diagnosis of congenital toxoplasmosis relies on the PCR test on amniotic fluid and ultrasound follow-up of the fetus. We report two cases of toxoplasma infection during the first trimester of gestation with a discrepant diagnosis of fetal infection. PCR performed more than four weeks after the estimated date of contamination was negative. Ultrasound follow-up was normal up to the third trimester when major hydrocephalus was detected, leading to pregnancy termination. In both cases, post-mortem examination revealed a diffuse infection with severe brain lesions. These observations confirm the necessity to continue a monthly ultrasound follow-up, even if amniocentesis is negative, in case of fetal toxoplasma infection in pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Parasitologie et Pathologie Exotique, Hôpital de la Croix-Rousse, 93 Grande Rue de la Croix-Rousse, 69317 Lyon Cedex 04, France.
authors.forename: Françoise
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gay-Andrieu
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Marty
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pialat
authors.forename: Gilles
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sournies
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Drier de Laforte
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Peyron
mesh_terms: D000028:Abortion, Induced; D000328:Adult; D000649:Amniocentesis; D000818:Animals; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014125:Toxoplasmosis, Congenital / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal