REGULATORY AND TRANSPORT PROTEINS IN PARTURIENT WOMEN IN THE CARRIAGE OF TORCH INFECTION PATHOGENS OR ANTIBODIES

Objective. To study the levels of α2-macroglobulin (α2MG), lactoferrin (LF), and albumin (ALB) in the serum and amniotic fluid (AF) of the parturient women in the carriage of TORCH infection pathogens or antibodies for the assessment of their role in the development of early neonatal infectious complications. Subjects and methods. The investigators determined the serum concentrations of α 2MG (by quantitative rocket immunoelectrophoresis), LF (by enzyme immunoassay (EIA)), and ALB (by a colorimetric method) and the AF levels of a 2MG, LF (by EIA), and ALB (by a quantitative immunoelectrophoresis) in 40 healthy parturient women at 38-40 weeks’ gestation), in 35 parturient carriers of TORCH infection pathogens or antibodies who had given birth to healthy babies, in parturient carriers of TORCH infection pathogens or antibodies who had given birth to infants with signs of intrauterine infection (IUI), including 18 with Candida albicans, 23 with Staphylococcus aureus, 40 with IgG antibodies to Chlamydia trachomatis, 25 with IgG antibodies to herpes simplex virus, and 32 women with mixed infection. Results. Birth of a full-term baby with signs of the infection is associated with significantly elevated LF levels in the carriage of IgG antibodies to Chlamydia trachomatis, with less elevated LF in the presence of Staphylococcus aureus and in mixed infection; on the contrary, the content of LF was decreased in the carriage of IgG to herpes simplex virus. The IUI infants showed lower serum ALB levels. Higher α 2MG levels were associated with the risk of IUI only in the presence of IgG antibodies to Chlamydia trachomatis in maternal blood. The parturient carriers with IUI had lower LF and higher α 2MG and ALB levels, except the carriers of Staphylococcus aureus as monoinfection. Conclusion. The found changes suggest a covert inflammatory response in parturient women in the carriage of TORCH infection pathogens or antibodies, increased fetoplacental unit permeability, and a decreased antibacterial/ antiviral potential of local protection from pathogenic organisms, which contributes to infection and may be used to predict the course of a neonatal period.

contents of α2-macroglobulin, lactoferrin and albumin in serum and amniotic fluid, parturient women, TORCH-infections