Detection of human parvovirus B19 infection in first-trimester fetal loss

To investigate the frequency of parvovirus B19 infection in first-trimester fetal loss, as measured by B19 DNA polymerase chain reaction in placental tissue in a prospective descriptive study from a nonendemic area.

Placental tissues from first-trimester fetal losses were examined for presence of B19 DNA by polymerase chain reaction in a prospective study during 30 months. For comparison, placental tissues from second-trimester fetal losses, as well as from full-term normal pregnancies, were also studied.

B19 DNA was detected by polymerase chain reaction in one of 36 (3%) placental tissues from first-trimester fetal losses. In second-trimester fetal losses, eight of 64 (12%) samples were B19 DNA positive. None of the 53 placental tissues from full-term normal pregnancies were B19 DNA positive. In first-trimester fetal losses, maternal serum from the B19 DNA-positive sample was B19 immunoglobulin (Ig)G positive but B19 IgM negative. In second-trimester fetal losses, six of six tested B19 DNA-positive samples were both B19 IgG and IgM positive.

The frequency of first-trimester fetal loss associated with parvovirus B19 infection was low, 3%, during a nonepidemic period in Sweden, as measured by B19 DNA-specific polymerase chain reaction in placental tissue.