Pattern of Parvovirus B19 Infection During Different Trimesters of Pregnancy in Kuwait

Abstract

Objective: Aims of this study were to determine the IgG and IgM seropositivity to parvovirus B19 during the three trimesters of pregnancy.Methods: Initially, a total of 1,047 pregnant women were included in a prospective study. Blood samples were obtained from 343, 406 and 298 cases in the first, second and third trimesters, respectively. To study the incidence of seroconversion, a second sample of blood was obtained 2–4 weeks later from the first 100 cases, who were IgG and IgM negative in the first trimester.Results: The seroprevalence of parvovirus B19 IgG and IgM was 53.3% and 2.2%, respectively. The incidence of seroconversion was 16.5%. The rate of fetal loss was 15.4% in patients with acute infection, all of which occurred in the first two trimesters.Conclusions: The percentage of IgG positive cases is significantly higher in first and second trimesters compared to the third trimester. The seroconversion rate was 16.5%. Infect. Dis. Obstet. Gynecol. 7:287–292, 1999.