[Rubella in pregnancy. Management and prevention]

DECLINING INCIDENCE: Between 1982 and 1994, the incidence of rubella infections during pregnancy in France declined form 45 to 9 cases per 100,000 births. The incidence of congenital rubella declined from 5 to 0.85 per 100,000 births. These results are the fruit of systematic vaccination of 1-year-old children in France. Eradication of congenital rubella has been achieved in Sweden and requires further efforts to be obtained in our country. SEROLOGY: Physicians must systematically check rubella serologies in all women desiring pregnancy and/or of reproductive age even if they have been vaccinated. Rubella serology must be checked in all pregnant women even if they were seropositive during a prior pregnancy. IN CASE OF EXPOSURE OR ERUPTION DURING PREGNANCY: Serology must be obtained as early as possible in case of suspected rubella infection during pregnancy with a second serology 3 weeks later. The IgM titre should be obtained in case of suspected exposure with significant rise in IgG in successive serologies, if specific IgG titre is elevated after an eruption, if the first serum sample was taken late after suspected exposure, and finally if a systematic serology early in pregnancy is positive after a previously negative serology. ANTENATAL DIAGNOSIS: PCR on amniotic fluid or fetal blood is indicated if a seroversion occurs before 18 weeks gestation. Therapeutic termination of pregnancy should be proposed if fetal infection is certain. After 18 weeks, there is nearly no risk for the fetus: an antenatal diagnostic sample is not required and ultrasound surveillance is sufficient.