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Hydrops fetalis from B19 parvovirus infection
V L Katz1, N C Chescheir, M Bethea
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill 27599-7570.
Human B19 parvovirus infection may be associated with hydrops fetalis and perinatal loss. This report documents a case of unexplained elevation of maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein with normal amniotic fluid alpha-fetoprotein before hydrops and in the absence of placental inflammatory reaction. More than 14 weeks elapsed from maternal exposure until fetal death. Both antenatal and histologic evidence suggest that a fetal myocarditis preceded the hydrops. This case corroborates two previous reports of infection by B19 parvovirus of fetal myocardium.
Human B19 parvovirus infection may be associated with hydrops fetalis and perinatal loss. This report documents a case of unexplained elevation of maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein with normal amniotic fluid alpha-fetoprotein before hydrops and in the absence of placental inflammatory reaction. More than 14 weeks elapsed from maternal exposure until fetal death. Both antenatal and histologic evidence suggest that a fetal myocarditis preceded the hydrops. This case corroborates two previous reports of infection by B19 parvovirus of fetal myocardium.