2023-09

Journal of University of Duhok (Issue : 2) (Volume : 26)

Background and aims: Antiphospholipid antibodies are associated with miscarriage and abortion, and this association has been reported in different countries. The aim of this study is to assess the prevalence of antiphospholipid antibodies IgM and IgG among pregnant women with previous history of miscarriage in Zakho City, Kurdistan region, Iraq. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Zakho city among women who had history of miscarriages from 1 st April 2019 to 31st May 2021. A total of 460 women age ranged between 16-46 years (Average age 29.73± 5.93 STDEV) were recruited in the study. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure antiphospholipid IgM and IgG antibodies. The relationship between age and level of antiphospholipid antibodies was performed using the Chi-Square test (Fisher Exact Test). Results: The overall rate of antiphospholipid antibodies was 31 (6.74%) for IgM, 16 (3.48%) for IgG and 9 (1.96%) was seropositive for both IgM and IgG antibodies. The study found that the highest IgM was 18 (11.25%) and IgG 10 (6.2%) seropositivity among age group 30 years old. There was a significant association between age groups and IgM seropositivity (P=0.02; OR=0.4; 95% CI 0.2-0.9) but statistically not significant between age groups and IgG seropositivity (P=0.79; OR=0.9; 95% CI 0.3-2). It was also found no significant differences between age groups and both IgM and IgG seropositivity (P=0.28; OR=0.4; 95% CI 0.1-1). Conclusion: The prevalence of antiphospholipid antibodies among aborted women was relatively low compared to other study. There was a positively association between IgM seropositivity and age group. Therefore, it is essential to conduct APA screening for women who have recurrent pregnancy loss and investigate the therapeutic effects of heparin and aspirin; this approach might improve fetal survival by starting anticoagulant treatment early.

2020-08

Acta Medica Iranica (Issue : 6) (Volume : 58)

Abstract- Recurrent abortion is a worldwide issue. Anticardiolipin antibodies (ACA) are found to be among the most important factors related to recurrent spontaneous early pregnancy loss. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of anticardiolipin IgM and IgG antibodies in women with recurrent abortion in Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The present study was conducted in Duhok and Zakho cities for the period from April 2014 to May 2019. A total of 1230 women aged between 18 to 46-year-old were included in this study. ELISA was used for the detection of anticardiolipin antibodies. Among the studied subjects, the prevalence of anticardiolipin antibodies was 74 (6.02%) for ACA IgM and 56 (4.6%) for ACA IgG. It was also observed that 16 (1.3%) subjects were positive for both ACA IgM and IgG antibodies. Additionally, the highest anticardiolipin antibody positivity rates were recorded in patients older than 30-year-old (P<0.01). The IgM ACA positivity was higher in Zakho city 45 (7.2%) when compared to Duhok city 29 (4.6%) (P<0.04). In conclusion, anticardiolipin antibodies can have a positive association among women with recurrent abortion. Therefore, it is suggested that women with recurrent abortion should be screened for anticardiolipin antibodies; this could increase fetal survival by initiating early anticoagulant therapy when other causes of abortion are excluded.

2020-04

International Journal of Infection (Issue : 3) (Volume : 7)

Background: Escherichia coli (E. coli) is one of the most common causative agents of bacterial infections. The emergence of multidrug-resistant E. coli is a major public health threat worldwide. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the antibiotic susceptibility profile of clinical isolates of E. coli from different samples. Methods: A total number of 454 clinical samples, including urine, wound, cervical swab, blood, semen, ascetic, and cerebral spinal fluid samples were collected from patients between January 2017 and February 2020. Then, E. coli was confirmed and susceptibility to different antibiotics was determined using the Vitek-2 compact system.

2020-01

Women’s Health Bulletin (Issue : 1) (Volume : 7)

Background: In pregnant women, primary infection with rubella and herpes virus may lead to serious complications, including abortion, stillbirth, and severe birth defect. The objective of the present study was to determine the prevalence of rubella and herpes IgG and IgM antibodies in pregnant women. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Zakho city, Kurdistan, Iraq. A total of 200 women aged 18-45 years with a history of miscarriage and stillbirth were recruited. Samples were collected from Private Clinical Health Centre at Zakho City between January 2015 and December 2018. All samples were then tested by Enzyme Linked Fluorescent Assay (ELFA) (VIDAS instrument) for detection of rubella and herpes specific IgG and IgM classes of antibodies.

2019-12

Journal of Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences. (Issue : 4) (Volume : 23)

Background: Infections with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) are major global public health problems. Infection with such viruses is commonly associated with liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence rate of HBV and HCV in women in Zakho City, Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Methods: A cross sectional study was performed in Zakho City, Iraq between January 2019 and October 2019. A total of 2223 females aged between 18 to 52 years old were included in this study. ELISA test was used to determine HBsAg, HBc IgG, and HCV antibodies positivity. HCV positive samples were then confirmed by Xpert HCV quantification assay. Results: Among the studied subjects, 12/2223 (0.54%) samples were positive for HBs Ag. All these 12 patients showed also positivity for HBc IgG. Only 1/2223 (0.045%) sample was positive for HCV antibodies. The result of HCV-RT-PCR confirmed the positivity for this patient. Conclusions: The low prevalence rate of HBV and HCV infection among women in Zakho City was less than that reported in other studies. Population-based study is needed to estimate the prevalence of infection.

2019-10

Women’s Health Bulletin (Issue : 4) (Volume : 6)

Background: Toxoplasma gondii and Cytomegalovirus (CMV) can cause a range of diseases in pregnant women and may lead to adverse fetal outcomes. Therefore, the detection of these infections is necessary during pregnancy. Objectives: The aim of this study was to estimate the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma and Cytomegalovirus infections among the pregnant women with history of abortion in Zakho city, Iraq. Methods: Over a period of five years (2014-2018), blood samples were collected from 500 subjects aged 16-45 years old and tested to identify the presence of specific IgG and IgM to Toxoplasma and CMV infections by Enzyme Linked Fluorescent Assay (ELFA) method.