INFLUENCE OF MATERNAL INFECTIONS WITH VIRAL AGENTS OR TOXOPLASMA-GONDII DURING PREGNANCY ON FETAL IGE PRODUCTION

The importance of maternal infections with Toxoplasma gondii, cytomega lovirus (CMV), Parvovirus B19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and influenza A and B on fetal IgE synthesis was studied in 153 pregnant w omen. No case of specific IgM activity or viral DNA in cord blood, ind icating a congenital infection, was found. From gestational week 15 to delivery, maternal IgG-Ab seroconversion to Parvovirus B19, RSV, infl uenza A, or influenza B occurred in 47 women. At delivery, serologic s igns of past infection with T. gondii were observed in 29 (19%) women, and the corresponding figure for CMV was 117 (77%). The number of wom en with positive IgG seroconversion during pregnancy or positive IgG-A b activity toward the studied infectious agents at delivery did not di ffer significantly among infants with an increased (11.3 kU/l; n=51) o r with an undetectable (<0.1 kU/l; n=102) cord-blood IgE level. These results show that genetic send other environmental factors probably ha ve a greater influence on fetal IgE synthesis than do maternal infecti ons during pregnancy.