Open AccessAn association between cytomegalovirus infection and pre‐eclampsia: a case–control study and data synthesis
Author(s) -
Xie Fang,
Hu Yuxiang,
Magee Laura A.,
Money Deborah M.,
Patrick David M.,
Krajden Mel,
Thomas Eva,
von Dadelszen Peter
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
acta obstetricia et gynecologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.401
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1600-0412
pISSN - 0001-6349
DOI - 10.3109/00016349.2010.499449
Subject(s) - medicine , eclampsia , pregnancy , cytomegalovirus , immunology , confidence interval , human cytomegalovirus , antibody , obstetrics , viral disease , herpesviridae , virus , biology , genetics
Objective . Pre‐eclampsia shares several similarities with atherosclerotic heart disease. We explored whether, like atherosclerosis, there is a potential link between cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and pre‐eclampsia. Design . CMV IgG, IgM and IgA antibodies were determined by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays in serums from pre‐eclampsia ( n = 78), normotensive intrauterine growth restriction (nIUGR) ( n = 30) and normal pregnancy controls ( n = 109). Data were analyzed by chi‐squared, Kruskal–Wallis ANOVA and Mann–Whitney U ‐tests. Further, we conducted a comprehensive review of published studies on the relation between CMV infection and pre‐eclampsia. Risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence interval (CI), according to CMV infection status, were calculated using Review Manager. Main outcome measures . Women with pre‐eclampsia had increased CMV IgG seropositivity compared with nIUGR ( p < 0.01) and normal pregnancy controls ( p < 0.01). In addition, CMV IgG antibody level was higher in pre‐eclampsia than normal pregnancy controls ( p < 0.001). No difference was observed in CMV IgM or IgA among study groups. Data synthesis revealed that women with CMV infection were at higher risk in the development of pre‐eclampsia, compared with women without CMV infection. Combined results for six studies yielded a RR of 1.5 (95% CI 1.2–1.9). Conclusion . CMV infection seems to affect the occurrence of pre‐eclampsia. Evaluation of the relation between CMV infection and pre‐eclampsia may provide mechanistic insights into pre‐eclampsia‐related inflammation.