Pregnancy outcome following a previous spontaneous abortion (miscarriage)

Objective: To determine the pregnancy outcome following a previous spontaneous abortion (miscarriage). Method: A prospective cohort study was done on 300 gravida-2 patients: 200 patients (case group) whose previous pregnancy was spontaneously aborted (early abortion), and 100 patients (control group) whose previous pregnancy went to term and a live fetus was delivered. All the patients were followed until delivery, and then the pregnancy outcomes, neonatal complications and delivery routes were determined and compared between the 2 groups. Pregnancy outcomes included: maternal complications (e.g. placenta previa, placental abruption, premature rupture of the membranes, preeclampsia and eclampsia, abortion, breech presentation, preterm labor, intrauterine fetal death); neonatal complications (low birth weight, gross congenital malformations, low Apgar score at 1 min), and delivery routes (cesarean delivery or instrumental delivery, e.g. forceps or vacuum). Statistical analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for Social Science. Results: Statistical analysis showed that the pregnancy complications following a previous spontaneous miscarriage were no different from those of the control group, except for abortion (16.5 vs. 11, p < 0.003, RR = 1.15, CI 95 = 0.95-1.39), fetal deaths (1.5 vs. 0, p < 0.004, RR = 1.51, CI 95 = 1.39-1.63), and vaginal bleeding during the first trimester (19 vs. 1, p < 0.001, RR = 1.57, CI 95 = 1.41-1.75), which were more than those of the control group. Also, the rate of cesarean delivery (28.14 vs. 13.48) was increased (p = 0.026, RR = 1.25, CI 95 = 1.07-1.47). Neonatal complications were not statistically significantly different in comparison with the control group. Conclusion: A prior spontaneous miscarriage is a risk for the next pregnancy, and the risk of abortion and intrauterine fetal death will increase. Therefore, careful prenatal care is mandatory. Copyright © 2006 S. Karger AG

Risk factors and prevalence of toxocariasis in pregnant women and diabetic patients compared to healthy adults in Ilam province, Western Iran

Toxocara is one of the common intestinal nematodes in dogs and cats and is the agent of tissue migratory larvae in humans. Customarily, the prevalence of human toxocariasis hovers around 15.8 % in Iran. Furthermore, other research outcomes demonstrated a tendency for an outbreak of toxocariasis in Iran. Therefore, we carried out a cross-sectional study and assessed the seroprevalence of toxocariasis humans in Ilam Province, western of Iran. A total of 539 serum samples were collected between September 2017 and March 2018 from patients referred to the Health Centers of Ilam province, Iran. Serum samples were investigated for the presence of Toxocara using IgG antibodies, ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) kit. Risk factors such as contact with cats and dogs, living in rural areas were investigated among the study population. Out of 539 total samples collected, 97 cases (17.99 %) were positive for anti-toxocara IgG antibodies. These antibodies were recovered from serum samples of otherwise healthy adults (15.54 %, 49/296), pregnant women (21.16 %, 40/189) and diabetic patients (14.81 %, 8/54). This study showed significant relationship between toxocariasis and contact with animal pets in all studied groups (P value ≤ 0.05) and a significant relationship between toxocariasis and living in rural areas among pregnant women (P value ≤ 0.05)