A Study on Correlation of Genotoxic Characteristics and Torch Infections among Pregnant Women Leading to Congenital Malformations

Abstract

ABSTRACT newlineAn increased complication rate during or after pregnancy and birth leads to a condition known to the mother or child when High Risk Pregnancy (HRP) and may be for both. An attempt was made here to find the role of TORCH infection in high-risk pregnant women; oxidative stress and somatic DNA damage, leading to congenital anomalies (CAs).The patients were referred from various infertility clinics and maternity centers of Kerala to Advanced Genetic Study Centre (Genetika), Trivandrum, Kerala. Study population includes 170 study subjects and 105 healthy controls. Blood sample was collected for TORCH IgG (ELISA), oxidative stress evaluation (Malondialdehyde by thibarbituric acid assay) and somatic DNA damage (CBMN assay). TORCH infections had a significant role in HRP (p-valuelt0.001). Study group showed a higher CBMN frequency and MDA value than control group. Proper diagnosis and intervention during early stage can be done by routinely screening of sample for TORCH agents, oxidative stress and somatic DNA damage even if the case is asymptomatic which shows high risk in postnatal periods. This can manage and reduce adverse foetal outcomes efficiently, thus reducing morbidity and mortality. newline