A Study on Seroprevalence of Rubella Specific Antibody in Pregnant Women.

Kim, M L; Kim, B; Yoon, H J; Jeon, H A; Chung, J K

Original Article

Korean Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology 1998;41(7):1901-1908.
Published online January 1, 2001.

A Study on Seroprevalence of Rubella Specific Antibody in Pregnant Women.

M L Kim, B Kim, H J Yoon, H A Jeon, J K Chung

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
To assess the rubella immune status of pregnant women. METHODS: Between July 1996 and December 1997, the seroprevelance of rubella was determined in the study group of 413 pregnant women. We checked the rubella specific IgG and IgM antibody titer of the women`s sera by ELISA. RESULTS: According to our study, the seropositivity rate of pregnant women was 89.6% (370/413) for rubella. IgM positive rate of 0.73% was found. Among them were no one who had taken vaccination and no one suffered from rubella infection and there were no statistically significant differences of IgG positive rate according age, gestational age and parity. CONCLUSIONS: There seems to be a high rate of naturally-acquired immunity among our study pregnant women. The importance of rubella IgG determination in pregnant women is discussed and recommendation for prevention and control of congenital rubella syndrome is suggested.

Key Words: Rubella, Vaccination, Congenital rubella syndrome