Vol. 4, Issue 12, Part C (2018)

Abstract
Recurrent foetal loss (RFL) is defined as the loss of three or more pregnancies and its causes include maternal infections and immunological status. Present study was conducted in Nair Hospital, Mumbai to check the incidence of active maternal infections and autoantibodies in pregnant women with RFL. Study comprised of 143 women in study group having history of RFL and 140 women in control group. Anticardiolipin antibodies (ACA) and Antinuclear Antibodies (ANA) and Lupus Anticoagulant (LA) giving prolonged “Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time” tests were carried out by the kits. Bacterial, viral and fungal infections were detected by standard procedures. In study group, 46.85% and 41.26% of women had active maternal infections and autoantibody respectively. While in control group, 13.57% women had active maternal infections but absence of autoantibodies. Highest infection rate was found to be of CMV, followed by T. gondii and budding yeast. While lowest was of N. gonorrhea. Highest incidence of ACA (31.47%) was found in the study group followed by LA (19.35%) and ANA (15.22%). In study group, 45.98% of women had a history of spontaneous abortion. Among them maternal infections were found more as compared to autoantibodies, but not statistically significant. Since the risk of developing a placental or fetal infection depends on the immune reactivity of pregnant woman, immunological investigations should include immunoglobulin levels and detection of autoantibodies.