my wife has been informed ot conduct a T.O.R.C.H. test due to 2 miscarraiges in a year
What is t.o.r.c.h test related to pregancy and miscarraige?
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TORCH test
Definition
The TORCH test, which is sometimes called the TORCH panel, belongs to a category of blood tests called infectious-disease antibody titer tests. This type of blood test measures the presence of antibodies (protein molecules produced by the human immune system in response to a specific disease agent) and their level of concentration in the blood. The name of the test comes from the initial letters of the five disease categories. The TORCH test measures the levels of an infant's antibodies against five groups of chronic infections: toxoplasmosis, other infections, rubella, cytomegalovirus (CMV), and herpes simplex virus (HSV). The "other infections" usually include syphilis, hepatitis B, coxsackie virus, Epstein-Barr virus, varicella-zoster virus, and human parvovirus.
Since the TORCH test is a screening or first-level test, the pediatrician may order tests of other body fluids or tissues to confirm the diagnosis of a specific infection. In the case of toxoplasmosis, rubella, and syphilis, cerebrospinal fluid may be obtained from the infant through a spinal tap in order to confirm the diagnosis. In the case of CMV, the diagnosis is confirmed by culturing the virus in a sample of the infant's urine. In HSV infections, tissue culture is the best method to confirm the diagnosis.
Purpose
The five categories of organisms whose antibodies are measured by the TORCH test are grouped together because they can cause a cluster of symptomatic birth defects in newborns. This group of defects is sometimes called the TORCH syndrome. A newborn baby with these symptoms will be given a TORCH test to see if any of the five types of infection are involved.
The symptoms of the TORCH syndrome include:
•Small size in proportion to length of the mother's pregnancy at time of delivery. Infants who are smaller than would be expected (below the tenth percentile) are referred to as small-for-gestational-age, or SGA.
•Enlarged liver and spleen
•Low level of platelets in the blood
•Skin rash. The type of skin rash associated with the TORCH syndrome is usually reddish-purple or brown and is caused by the leakage of blood from broken capillaries into the baby's skin.
•Involvement of the central nervous system. These defects can include encephalitis, calcium deposits in the brain tissue, and seizures.
•Jaundice. The yellowish discoloration of the skin and whites of the eyes due to liver disease.
In addition to these symptoms, each of the TORCH infections has its own characteristic symptom cluster in newborns:
Toxoplasmosis
Toxoplasmosis is caused by Toxoplasma gondii, a parasite that the mother can acquire from handling infected cats, drinking unpasteurized milk, or eating contaminated meat. The infection is carried to the infant through the mother's placenta, and can cause infections of the eyes or central nervous system. The organism can invade brain or muscle tissue and form tissue cysts. The later in pregnancy that the mother is infected, the higher the probability that the fetus will be infected. On the other hand, toxoplasmosis early in pregnancy is more likely to cause a miscarriage or serious birth defects. The incidence of toxoplasmosis in newborns is one in 1,000 live births.
Other (syphilis)
Syphilis is caused by a spirochete (spiral- or coil-shaped bacterium), Treponema pallidum. It is transmitted in the adult population by sexual intercourse. About 2-5% of children born to mothers diagnosed with syphilis will have the disease at birth. Syphilis was added to the TORCH panel because of a rapid increase in reported cases since 1990. It is also a potentially life-threatening infection for the fetus. Syphilis can cause early delivery, miscarriage, or stillbirth. The mortality rate in infants infected with syphilis is about 54%.
Rubella
Rubella is a virus that has a seasonal pattern, with epidemics most likely in the spring. Between 0.1-2% of newborns will be infected with rubella. The rate of fetal infection varies according to the timing of the mother's infection during pregnancy. Birth defects, however, are most likely (85%) in infants infected during the first eight weeks of pregnancy. Infants born with rubella may already show signs of heart disease, retarded growth, hearing loss, blood disorders, vision problems, or pneumonia. They may also develop problems later in childhood, including autism, hearing loss, brain syndromes, immune system disorders, or thyroid disease.
Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
Cytomegalovirus belongs to the herpesvirus group of infections. It can be transmitted through body secretions, as well as by sexual contact; some newborns acquire CMV through the mother's breast milk. In adults, it produces symptoms resembling those of mononucleosis. About 1-2.2% of newborns in the United States are infected with CMV. Of this group, 10% will have measurable symptoms. The mortality rate for these symptomatic newborns is 20-30%. Surviving infants with CMV may suffer from hearing problems (15%) or mental retardation (30%). Newborns that acquire CMV during the birth process or shortly after birth may develop pneumonia, hepatitis, or various blood disorders.
Herpes simplex virus (HSV)
Herpesvirus infections are among the most common viral infections in humans. They are spread by oral, as well as genital, contact. It is estimated that between 1 in 1,000 and 1 in 5,000 infants are born with HSV infections. About 80% of these infections are acquired during the birth process itself; the virus enters the infant through its eyes, skin, mouth, and upper respiratory tract. Of infants born with HSV infection, about 20% will have localized infections of the eyes, mouth, or skin. About 50% of infected infants will develop disease spread throughout the body (disseminated) within nine to 11 days after birth. Disseminated herpes infections attack the liver and adrenal glands, as well as other body organs. Without treatment, the mortality rate is 80%. Even with antiviral medication, the mortality rate is still 15-20%, with 40-55% of the survivors having long-term damage to the central nervous system. It is critical for the doctor to diagnose HSV infection in the newborn as soon as possible, for effective treatment.
Description
The TORCH panel requires a sample of the infant's blood. Samples from infants are usually obtained by the heelstick procedure when only a small quantity of blood is needed. The baby's foot is wrapped in a warm cloth for five minutes, to make the blood flow more easily. The foot is then wiped with an alcohol swab and a lancet is used to stick the baby's heel on one side. It is important to avoid the center of the heel, in order to prevent an inflammation of the bone.
Preparation
No special preparation, other than sterile technique, is required.
Risks
The only complications associated with the TORCH test are those resulting from the heelstick technique itself. These risks include scarring, infection of the bone, cellulitis (inflammation of cellular tissue), small lumpy calcium deposits, and inaccurate test results.
Normal results
The normal result would be normal levels of immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibody in the infant's blood. IgM is one of five types of protein molecules found in blood that function as antibodies. IgM is a specific class of antibodies that seeks out virus particles. In contrast to adults, IgM is the most common type of immunoglobulin in newborn children. It is, therefore, the most useful indicator of the presence of a TORCH infection.
Abnormal results
The general abnormal, or positive, finding would be high levels of IgM antibody. The test can be refined further for antibodies specific to given disease agents. The TORCH screen, however, can produce both false-positive and false-negative findings. Doctors can measure IgM levels in the infant's cerebrospinal fluid, as well as in the blood, if they want to confirm the TORCH results.
Key Terms
Antibody
A protein molecule produced by the immune system that is specific to a disease agent, such as CMV and the other organisms sought by the TORCH test. The antibody combines with the organism and disables it.
Perinatal
Referring to the period of time surrounding an infant's birth, from the last two months of pregnancy to the first 28 days of life. The TORCH panel tests for perinatal infections.
Small-for-gestational-age (SGA)
A term used to describe newborns who are below the 10th percentile in height or weight for their estimated gestational age. The gestational age is based upon the date of the mother's last menstrual period. SGA is one of the symptoms of TORCH syndrome.
Titer
The concentration of a substance in a given sample of blood or other tissue fluid.
For Your Information
Books
•Cruse, Julius M., and Robert E. Lewis. Illustrated Dictionary of Immunology. New York: CRC Press, 1995.
•"Infectious Diseases: TORCH Infections." In Neonatology: Management, Procedures, On-Call Problems, Diseases and Drugs, ed. Tricia Lacy Gomella, et al. Norwalk, CT: Appleton %26amp; Lange, 1994.
•Levin, Myron J. "Infections: Viral %26amp; Rickettsial." In Current Pediatric Diagnosis %26amp; Treatment, ed. William W. Hay Jr., et al. Stamford: Appleton %26amp; Lange, 1997.
•"Pediatrics and Genetics: Disturbances in Newborns and Infants." In The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy. 16th ed. Ed. Robert Berkow. Rahway, NJ: Merck Research Laboratories, 1992.
•"Procedures: Heelstick (Capillary Blood Sampling)." In Neonatology: Management, Procedures, On-Call Problems, Diseases and Drugs, ed. Tricia Lacy Gomella, et al. Norwalk, CT: Appleton %26amp; Lange, 1994.
Source: Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine, Published December, 2002 by the Gale Group
The Essay Author is Rebecca J. Frey PhD.
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