Previous maternal infection with Toxoplasma gondii and the risk of fetal death

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the association between previous maternal Toxoplasma gondii (T gondii) infection and risk of fetal death. STUDY DESIGN: This was a population-based prospective cohort of 29,912 pregnant women without acute T gondii infection in Norway. RESULTS: In the study population, 2937 (9.8%) women had evidence of previous maternal T gondii infection, and 299 (1.0%) had fetal deaths. We found no association between previous T gondii infection and risk of fetal death at > or = 20 weeks of gestation. We did find a trend for an increased risk of fetal death at > or = 16 and <20 weeks of gestation. However, we noted no association between previous T gondii infection and risk of fetal death at all birth weight categories (> or = 1000, > or = 500 and <1000, and <500 g). CONCLUSION: These data do not indicate an increased risk of fetal death at > or = 20 weeks of gestation in women with previous maternal T gondii infection.