Previous maternal infection with Toxoplasma gondii and the risk of fetal death.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to assess the association between previous maternal Toxoplasma gondii (T gondii) infection and risk of fetal death.


METHODS
This was a population-based prospective cohort of 29,912 pregnant women without acute T gondii infection in Norway.


RESULTS
In the study population, 2937 (9.8%) women had evidence of previous maternal T gondii infection, and 299 (1.0%) had fetal deaths. We found no association between previous T gondii infection and risk of fetal death at > or = 20 weeks of gestation. We did find a trend for an increased risk of fetal death at > or = 16 and <20 weeks of gestation. However, we noted no association between previous T gondii infection and risk of fetal death at all birth weight categories (> or = 1000, > or = 500 and <1000, and <500 g).


CONCLUSIONS
These data do not indicate an increased risk of fetal death at > or = 20 weeks of gestation in women with previous maternal T gondii infection.
Chen
Katherine T
KT
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA. ktc10@columbia.edu
Eskild
Anne
A
Bresnahan
Michaeline
M
Stray-Pedersen
Babill
B
Sher
Arnold
A
Jenum
Pål A
PA
D001724:Birth Weight; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012307:Risk Factors; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000453:epidemiology*