Zika as a cause of spontaneous abortion in endemic areas

Although in most cases Zika is an uncomplicated febrile disease, in pregnant women is a recognized cause of congenital disorders. Microcephaly is the characteristic most frequently described in the congenital Zika virus syndrome, and the diagnosis requires laboratory confirmation.

A 23-year-old female on the ninth week of pregnancy by date of last menstrual period and 10.3 weeks by ultrasound, attended to Health Services, presenting clinical manifestations of Zika infection, which was later confirmed by laboratory tests. In her 18.6 weeks of pregnancy, a non-mobile single fetus was documented. Additional findings were microcephaly, lack of thorax with cardiac activity, anterior corporal placenta with 30% calcification, and an image of probable venous lake versus placental cyst. She was admitted to the emergency room for late abortion and labor was induced, obtaining an 80 g male product with head circumference of 9 cm. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis on the umbilical cord was positive for Zika virus.

Zika infection during pregnancy must be suspected and diagnosed promptly to offer comprehensive care. The loss of conception in these patients has been documented with results of chorionic villus biopsies, finding Zika virus RNA and suggesting spontaneous abortion early during viremia.