Circulation of Herpesvirus and Alphatorquevirus DNA in each trimester in asymptomatic women pregnant with twins

TL;DR

This study examines the presence of Herpesvirus and TTV DNA in twin pregnancies, finding no significant link to immune markers or adverse outcomes.

Contribution

The study provides new insights into viral dynamics in twin pregnancies, a high-risk population with limited prior data.

Findings

Herpesvirus DNA was detected in 18.5% of women, with variable presence across trimesters.

TTV DNA was detected in 77.7% of women, with persistent detection in nearly half.

No significant associations were found between viral presence and immune markers or pregnancy outcomes.

Abstract

Data on the dynamics of Herpesviruses and Torque teno virus (TTV) in plasma from twin pregnancies are limited, despite their potential to provide insights into maternal immune status in this high-risk population.

A convenience sample of plasma was obtained from 54 healthy women with twin pregnancies and no adverse outcomes. The plasma samples were collected at 8–15, 17–25, and 26–35 weeks of gestation at Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy. Real-time PCR detected Herpesviruses and TTV DNA, determined viral titers, and evaluated associations with cytokine levels and pregnancy-related parameters.

Herpesvirus were detected in 10 women (18.5%): three for herpes simplex virus (HSV)-1, three for human herpesvirus (HHV)-6, one for both HSV-1 and HHV-6, and one each for HSV-2, cytomegalovirus (CMV), or Epstein–Barr virus (EBV). Only one woman was positive throughout all trimesters (HHV-6). TTV DNA was detected in 42 women (77.7%), persistently in 26 (48.1%) and transiently in 16 (29.6%). No associations were found between viral detection and plasma interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), or pregnancy-related parameters, except for a higher prevalence of TTV in women with previous deliveries (p = 0.0402).

The high frequency and variable viral titer of TTV with the transient circulation of some herpesviruses appear unaffected by the immunological adaptations inherent to this setting of twin pregnancies without adverse outcomes, as supported by the absence of correlation between inflammatory markers and viral dynamics. Nonetheless, ongoing monitoring of obstetric and postnatal outcomes remains warranted.

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