Latent Toxoplasmosis is Not a Risk Factor for Pregnancy-induced Hypertension

Aims: To compare between Toxoplasma IgG antibody seroprevalence in pregnancy-induced hypertensive females (cases) versus normotensive pregnant females (control), and to identify potential risk factors in Toxoplasma infected patients.

Study Design: A prospective case-control study.

Place and Duration of Study: Outpatient clinics of Obstetrics & Gynecology Department and Department of Medical Parasitology, faculty of medicine, Mansoura University in the period from January 2013 to February 2014.

Methodology: We included 78 pregnant females (39 hypertensive, and 39 normotensive; age range 18-39 years). Data concerning demographic and reproductive histories were recorded including previous pregnancies outcome and foetal complications. Comprehensive investigations of the current pregnancy including clinical examination and abdominal ultrasound scan were performed. Five ml venous blood was withdrawn from each female, processed and investigated for the presence of anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies by ELISA.

Results: The overall Toxoplasma seroprevalence was 40/78 (51.3%) among total participants. Anti- T. gondii IgG antibodies were found in 23/39 (57.5%) of pregnancy-induced hypertension patients and in 17/39 (42.5%) normotensive controls (OR=1.85; 95% CI: 0.7-4.6; P=.17). Of the anti- T. gondii IgG positive patients, 19 (82.6%) had high IgG levels. In comparison only 1 (6.2%) of the anti- T. gondii IgG positive controls showed high IgG levels (P<.0001). Regarding the specific characteristics of Toxoplasma positive pregnancy-induced hypertension patients, none of those characters displayed a significant correlation with hypertensive tendency except history of abortion (P=.004).

Conclusion: Chronic toxoplasmosis is not a likely risk factor for pregnancy-induced hypertension although significantly higher titre among hypertensive females necessitates further research.