Assay of TORCH profile in patients with congenital cataract aged 0-4 years at a tertiary eye hospital

Purpose: To evaluate the TORCH profile ( Toxoplasma gondii , rubella, cytomegalovirus , and herpes simplex virus1 and 2) of all patients with congenital cataract excluding traumatic cataracts aged 0-4 yrs over a period 12 months at a tertiary eye hospital. Methods: In this cross-sectional study performed for 12 mo, all patients with congenital cataract aged 0-4 yrs excluding traumatic cataracts were assayed quantitatively and qualitatively at a tertiary eye hospital. Results: Of 49 patients with congenital cataract included in the study, 43 (87.75%) were seropositive for TORCH profile. Approximately 7 of 49 presented unilaterally, whereas 42 were bilaterally cataractous. Approximately 37 of 43 seropositive patients (86.04%) were IgG +ve, 6 of 43 (13.95%) were positive for both IgM and IgG, and none were IgM-positive. Approximately 11 of 43 (25.58%) were CMV +ve alone, 5 of 43 (11.62%) were rubella +ve, and 1 of 43 (2.32%) was HSV1 +ve, whereas 25 of 43 (58.13%) were +ve in combinations. Conclusion: The positivity rate of TORCH profile is high in patients with congenital cataract. Hence, previous testing and its evaluation need to be performed, so that the clinician can be vigilant and identify the associated syndromic presentation at the earliest.