A Systematic Review to Evaluate a Possible Association Between Congenital Toxoplasmosis and Preterm Labor

Background:Congenital toxoplasmosis (CT) is a widespread infection in several countries, and it is defined as an infection of a fetus, newborn, or infant under 1 year of age. Moreover, it represents a thread to pregnant women globally. The objective of our study is to evaluate a potential association between prematurity and CT and whether intrauterine transmission impacts gestational length during pregnancy. Methods:PubMed, Cochrane Library and Google Scholar databases were searched from 1950 to 2019. Case-control studies, retrospective, and prospective cohort studies were eligible. Seven studies were included from a total of 314. The Newcastle-Ottawa scale was used to establish the quality of the articles included. Results:Based on our review, an association between CT and preterm labor was not established, which may reflect heterogeneity in screening, treatments administered, and differing reported incidences of CT across continents over 69 years. A multicenter prospective cohort study powered to investigate a potential association is indicated. Conclusion:Further studies are needed including multicenter prospective cohort studies powered to investigate key clinical associations such as vertical transmission and preterm birth.

Automated summary

The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential association between prematurity and congenital toxoplasmosis (CT) and to investigate the impact of intrauterine transmission on gestational length. The review of existing studies did not establish a connection between CT and preterm labor, possibly due to heterogeneity in screening, treatments, and reported incidences of CT across different regions. Further research, including large-scale prospective cohort studies, is needed to explore key clinical associations such as vertical transmission and preterm birth.