The reliability of the Wassermann reaction in pregnancy

THE

RELIABILITY

OF THE WASSERMANN PREGNANCY

A REPORT ON FIVE HUNDRED BY J. R. McCORD, M.D., (From the Department

REACTION CASES

ATLANTA, GA.

of Obstetrics, Emmy University

I

IN

School

of Yedbilte)

N AN attempt to determine just how variable the Wassermann reaction is during pregnancy, the t,est was repeated on 500 pregnant negro women. The laboratory work was done by the pathologic department of Emory University; the sheep-cell system was used. Only two persons made the tests, one of whom made over 90 per cent of them. The first test was made at the time of the initial visit to the prenatal clinic. The duration of pregnancy at the time this was done was variable. The blood for the second test was taken at the time the patient was admitted to the hospital; in most of the cases, during the first stage of labor. For obvious reasons some of these second tests were made during the puerperium. The reactions on the 500 women agreed in 87 per cent of the cases. There were thirty-nine cases in which the clinic Wassermanns were Of these, thirtypositive and the labor Wassermanns were negative. If we are allowed to one cases had had antisyphilitic treatment. deduct these cases, our reactions agreed in 93 per cent. The clinic reaction was negative and the labcq- one positive twentysix times. The Wassermann remained positive in thirty-five cases that had treatment. In sixteen, the treatment was slight, in nine fair and in t,en good. There were only sixteen cases in which both the maternal and cord Wassermanns were positive. In eleven cases, the reactions had agreed but the mothers were discharged undelivered. Upon readmittance, the reactions again agreed in ten of the eleven cases. 61 FORREST

AVENUE.

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