Evaluation of immunocytochemistry in diagnosis of CMV plancental infection

ABSTRACT

Despite its public health imoprtance, very little is known about the pathophysiology of the transplacental transmission of CMV from the mother to the fetus and also the diagnosis of placental CMV infection is still a main problem untile now. In the present study eleven placentae from mothers with symptomatic congenitally infected infants out of 180 [6.1%] pregnant woman positive for CMV specific Ig[M] antibodies, were examined, histopathologically and immunocytochemically [Single and double staining]. By immunocytochemistry we found that infection in eight cases [73%] [one, two and five with aborted, premature, and full term babies respectively], while histopathological study discovered infection in only 4 cases [36.5%] [one, and three with premature, and full term babies respectively]. Immunocytochemistry is more valiable than routine histopathology especially in early stage of pregnancy and help to clarify the role of the placenta in congenital CMV infection