Too Late Prenatal Diagnosis of Fetal Toxoplasmosis: A Case Report

Vol. 20, No. 3, 2005

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Paper

Too Late Prenatal Diagnosis of Fetal Toxoplasmosis: A Case Report
Dorota Nowakowska^a, Maria Respondek-Liberska^b, Elzbieta Golab^c, Babill Stray-Pedersen^d, Krzysztof Szaflik^e, Tadeusz H. Dzbenski^b, Jan Wilczynski^a

^aDepartment of Fetal Maternal Medicine, Research Institute Polish Mother's Memorial Hospital (RIPMMH), Lodz,
^bDepartment for Diagnosis Fetal Malformations, RIPMMH, Lodz,
^cDepartment of Medical Parasitology,

Address of Corresponding Author

Fetal Diagn Ther 2005;20:190-193 (DOI: 10.1159/000083903)

Key Words

Congenital toxoplasmosis
Hydrocephalus
Prenatal diagnosis

Abstract

Objective: We describe a case of severe fetal hydrocephalus due to toxoplasmosis which could not be diagnosed until late gestational age due to the lack of a serologic surveillance program during pregnancy; moreover, this case points to the usefulness of molecular biology tools in the diagnostic process. Abnormal ultrasound in the 2ndtrimester was noticed and Toxoplasma gondii was demonstrated in amniotic fluid at the 28th week of gestation both by PCR and by mice inoculation. Fansidar and folinic acid were administered. The newborn suffered from progressive hydrocephalus, seizures, and pathological muscular tonus; ultrasound examination showed massive cerebral calcifications. Ophthalmologic examination revealed bilateral choroidoretinitis. Congenital toxoplasmosis was confirmed by the detection of anti- T. gondii IgM and IgA in the neonatal serum. Conclusion: The presented case is an example of severe fetal toxoplasmosis diagnosed and treated in utero.

Author Contacts

Dorota Nowakowska, MD, PhD
Research Institute Polish Mother's Memorial Hospital
Department of Fetal Maternal Medicine
Rzgowska 281/289, PL-93-338 Lstrok ód zacute (Poland)
Tel. +48 42 271 13 06, Fax +48 42 271 14 71, E-Mail dnowakowska@hotmail.com

Article Information

Received: May 6, 2003
Accepted after revision: March 12, 2004
Number of Print Pages : 4
Number of Figures : 1, Number of Tables : 2, Number of References : 20

Medline Abstract (ID 15824496)

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