Serodiagnosis of Rubella in Pregnant Women

Abstract

This study was conducted from 15th December 2012 to 15th May 2013 and included 220 pregnant woman whose age (18-40) years , who attended Azadi General Teaching Hospital, Kirkuk General Hospital and some primary health care centers in Kirkuk Governorate. Blood sample was drawn from each woman to determine specific anti-rubella antibodies (IgM and IgG) by using Enzyme Linked Immuno Sorbent Assay (ELISA). The results revealed that anti-rubella IgG , IgM and both IgG & IgM antibodies at the same time for the 220 pregnant women were 85.90 % , 4.55 % and 1.82% respectively. The study revealed that the highest rate of seropositivity was in the age group 24-29 years, while the lowest rate was in older age group ≥36 years. Also the study revealed that the rate of seropositivity of rubella-IgG was higher (65.6%) among women who lives in urban areas while the highest seropositivity for rubella-IgM and both IgM and IgG at the same time were among women who lives in rural areas with significant relation P> 0.05 . Regarding the relation of rubella antibodies among pregnant women with the number of children, highest rates for rubella-IgM and both IgM and IgG at the same time were recorded among pregnant women with no children than who had one child or more while for rubella IgG the highest rate was among pregnant women with two children with significant relation P> 0.05. The study revealed that the pregnant women in the second trimester had highest rate of seropositivity for anti- rubella IgG, while the highest rates for anti- rubella IgM an both IgM and IgG at the same time was recorded among pregnant women in the first trimester of pregnancy. In relation to the history of abortion and the seropositivity of rubella antibodies were the (61.58 %) of pregnant women had history of abortion with significant relation P> 0.05, however the abortional frequency were had no more deferent recorded among pregnant women with history of one abortion or more with non-significant relation P>0.05.