Pregnancy and Congenital Toxoplasmosis

Plain-language summary

The Toxoplasma gondii parasite causes toxoplasmosis. It is characterized by persistent cysts mostly localised in the brain and ocular areas. In the case of immunodeficiency, those cysts are likely to reactivate. During pregnancy, an infection exposes the foetus to a variety of consequences, from severe neurologic lesions to subclinical forms at birth. However, those forms are likely to complicate at any age to toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis, that can unpredictably recur with severe functional consequences. Pregnancy may stimulate lesions or their recurrences, putting the foetus at risk of contamination because of the release of tachyzoites in the bloodstream. The occurrence of these complications is poorly known, especially with congenital toxoplasmosis. Nevertheless, this information is essential to take care of patients, particularly women with congenital toxoplasmosis, usually worried about the consequences of a pregnancy. As a precaution, women with congenital toxoplasmosis follow a specific ophthalmologic, and trimonthly monitoring, composed of fundus examinations during pregnancy and in postpartum. To eliminate the contamination risk, serological examinations at birth and one year later are done on their kids. The aim of this study is to estimate the risk of toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis during pregnancy and the impact on their children. Retrospective and prospective data from the Lyon Cohort of Maternal and Congenital Toxoplasma Infections will be used. As a result of to this study, the investigators expect to provide better information to women suffering from congenital toxoplasmosis about their own ocular safety during pregnancy, and the safety of their child(ren). The investigators seek to provide new national and international recommendations about these patients and their children's care.

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