Rubella, herpes simplex virus type 2 and preeclampsia

Background

Preeclampsia is a major health problem. Although, the pathophysiology of preeclampsia is not fully understood, there are recent studies on association between infections and preeclampsia.

Objective

The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between maternal seropositivity of rubella, Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) and preeclampsia.

Method

A case –controls study (90 women in each arm) was conducted at Saad Abualila Maternity Hospital, Khartoum, Sudan.

The cases were women with preeclampsia and the controls were healthy pregnant women. Rubella and HSV-2 IgG antibodies were analysed in the maternal sera of all of the participants using ELISA.

Results

There was no significant difference in the age, parity and gestational age between the two groups. Maternal serum IgG seropositivity for rubella (92.2% vs. 34.4%, P < 0.001) and HSV-2 (87.8% vs. 57.8%, P < 0.001) were significantly higher in preeclampsia than in the controls. There was no significant difference in the maternal serum IgM seropositivity for rubella (3.3% vs. 2.2%, P = 0.650) and HSV-2 (2.2% vs. 1.1%, P = 0.560). All the IgM seropositive cases were IgG seropositive too. In binary logistic regression women with rubella (OR = 4.93; 95% CI = 2.082–11.692, P < 0.001) and HSV-2 (OR = 5.54; 95% CI = 2.48–12.38, P < 0.001) IgG seropositivity were at higher risk for preeclampsia.

Conclusion

In the current study rubella and HSV-2 IgG seropositivity is associated with preeclampsia. Preventive measure should be implemented.

Cytokine profiles in peripheral, placental and cord blood in an area of unstable malaria transmission in eastern Sudan

BACKGROUND

Understanding the cytokine interactions that underlie both control and disease should be helpful when investigating the pathogenesis of malaria during pregnancy. Few data exists concerning pathogenesis of malaria during pregnancy in areas of unstable malaria transmission.

OBJECTIVES

The study was conducted in New Halfa hospital, eastern Sudan, which is characterized by unstable malaria transmission to investigate the cytokine profiles in peripheral, placental and cord blood in parturient women.

METHODS

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure the concentrations of three cytokines, interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), interleukin-4 (IL-4) and IL-10, in sera from peripheral, placental and cord blood of 87 Sudanese women.

RESULTS

The concentrations of these cytokines were significantly higher in peripheral, placental sera from uninfected women than in sera from infected women. IFN-gamma concentrations were significantly lower in the cord sera from uninfected women in comparison to the infected ones. The levels of these cytokines were not significantly different between the primiparae and multipare. Cord sera in all groups showed lower levels of these cytokines. Strong positive correlations were observed between peripheral and placental cytokines.

CONCLUSION

The immune responses that occur in placental, peripheral and cord blood were influenced by the malaria infections, irrespective of the parity. The immune response during Plasmodium falciparum infection is not different in the peripheral and placental compartments, further studies are required.

Correlation of some biochemical parameters with clinical features of protein energy malnutrition

The authors report on a study correlating the laboratory findings of children with protein energy malnutrition (PEM) with their clinical presentations. Forty-nine cases of marasmus, 17 of kwashiorkor and 28 of marasmic-kwashiorkor, as well as 20 controls, were studied and monitored in hospital. Fasting plasma samples obtained on days 2, 14 and 21 were analyzed for total proteins, albumin, triglycerides and cholesterol. Blood glucose and haemoglobin were also determined. The total plasma proteins and albumin were significantly lower in all the malnourished cases compared to the controls, with marked hypoproteinaemia among those cases with kwashiorkor. Plasma triglycerides were significantly lower in the malnourished group, when compared to controls. With dietary treatment, plasma triglycerides rose significantly accompanied with regression in liver size. Four out of the 17 children with kwashiorkor, had died; they had the lowest serum albumin concentrations of all the cases studied. The mean haemoglobin concentration of those who died was also significantly lower than that of the survivors.