Primary congenital aphakia and the rubella syndrome

Four embryos from women infected by rubella virus early in pregnancy were investigated histologically. In three of the patients the serological tests were positive; in the fourth the diagnosis of rubella was based solely on the clinical picture. Three of the four embryos showed unilateral severe microphthalmia and primary congenital aphakia. In addition to this defect the right eye of one of the embryos showed a central liquefaction of the lens (cataract). Damage to the internal ear in the form of discontinuities in the epithelium of the cochlear duct were also observed (in two of the three embryos; in the fourth both internal ears were absent in the curettage material). In three of the four hearts there were cells in the myocardium with a markedly eosinophilic cytoplasm.