Detection of parvovirus B19 in fetal autopsies

In a 10-year retrospective study we examined the incidence of parvovirus B19 (B19)-related hydrops fetalis in fetal autopsies (n = 1,299) carried out between 1982 and 1991. Intrauterine death had occurred in 399 cases (30.7%); in 42 (10.5%) of these hydrops fetalis was diagnosed. Of these 42 hydropic fetuses, parvovirus B19 infection was identified in 6 (14.3%) cases by the presence of typical erythroblastic nuclear inclusions in hematoxylin-eosin stained tissue and the diagnosis was confirmed by in situ hybridization using a Digoxigenin-labelled B19 DNA probe. The study shows that the overall incidence of B19-associated intrauterine death associated with hydrops fetalis is low. However, B19 infection should be considered in all cases of hydrops fetalis.