Foeto-maternal morbidity in the presence of antibodies to Trypanosoma cruzi.

Pregnancy outcome and maternal morbidity were analysed in 302 pregnant women with positive Machado-Guerreiro Complement Fixation Test (MGCFT) for antibodies to Trypanosoma cruzi and 302 women with a negative MGCFT resident of Córdoba, Argentina. A comparison of positive and negative cases was employed to investigate the association between MGCFT reaction and pregnancy outcome assessed from abortion and perinatal infant mortality rates; similarly, the data were analysed for demographic and socio-economic factors, numbers of previous pregnancies (birth order) and maternal complications. A twofold increase in the risk of pregnancy loss associated with a positive MGCFT was found. The incidence of polyhydramnios and varicosities of the leg was significantly higher in the serologically reactive group.