- Academic Editor
-
-
-
†These authors contributed equally.
Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) influenced the
prevalence of other infectious diseases, including congenital cytomegalovirus
(CMV) infection. However, the effect of COVID-19 on antibody titers has not been
reported. This study aimed to explore the influence of COVID-19 on levels of CMV
immunoglobulin M (IgM) in pregnant women. Methods: This cross-sectional
study included pregnant women who visited the University Hospital due to CMV IgM
positivity during the 7th and 8th waves of COVID-19. Data, including maternal
characteristics, history of COVID-19, CMV immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgM index,
and IgG avidity index (AI) were collected. Chemiluminescent immunoassay was
performed to measure levels of IgG and IgM. Polymerase chain reaction using
neonatal urine was performed to confirm congenital infection. Results:
Of the 89 pregnant women, 36 (40%) (low IgG AI: n = 10; high IgG AI: n = 26)
contracted COVID-19. Among 21 women with low IgG AI, 9 (false IgM positive: n =
8; primary infection: n = 1) had an IgG AI of 0. Among the eight women with false
IgM positivity, six (75%) contracted COVID-19. The IgM index of pregnant women
with false IgM positivity was 12.6