HCMV seroprevalence and associated risk factors in pregnant women, Havana City, 2007 to 2008.
OBJECTIVE
To prenatally identify pregnant women at risk of developing congenital infection due to human cytomegalovirus (HCMV).


METHODS
One thousand one hundred and thirty-one pregnant women from three municipalities from Havana City were serologically screened for HCMV infection (IgM/IgG, IgG avidity) from January 2007 to January 2008. Demographical, epidemiological, and clinical variables were correlated to serologic status to identify predictors of seroconversion in pregnancy.


RESULTS
The majority of women were seropositive to HCMV (92.6%); 27 women (2.4%) developed HCMV active infection during pregnancy, defined by the detection of IgG+ and IgM+ (7 women), IgM+ and IgG- (2 women), and IgG seroconversion (18 women). Susceptibility of active HCMV infection during pregnancy was associated with maternal age < 20 years and nulligravidity. Primary infection was detected in 20 pregnant women (1.8%), whereas 7 patients (0.6%) had active non-primary infection.


CONCLUSIONS
Although pregnant women in Cuba have high seroprevalence rates for HCMV, those younger than 20 years and nulligravidae are at risk of acquiring infection during pregnancy.
Correa
C B
CB
Virology Department, Institute of Tropical Medicine Pedro Kourí, Havana City, Cuba.
Kourí
V
V
Verdasquera
D
D
Martínez
P A
PA
Alvarez
A
A
Alemán
Y
Y
Pérez
L
L
Viera
J
J
González
R
R
Pérez
E
E
Moro
I
I
Navarro
M A
MA
Melin
P
P
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D003462:Cuba / Q000453:epidemiology; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D055815:Young Adult