Fetal risks in herpes gestationis.
BACKGROUND
The potential risks to the fetus in herpes gestationis have long been a controversial subject, but because of the rarity of the disease, have only occasionally been studied.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of fetal complications in herpes gestationis.


METHODS
We collected and analyzed the obstetric histories of 74 patients and compared their involved pregnancies with their uninvolved pregnancies.


RESULTS
There was an obvious tendency for premature delivery associated with herpes gestations. A slight tendency toward small-for-gestational-age newborns associated with herpes gestationis was confirmed, but, perhaps surprisingly, no increase in spontaneous abortions or stillbirths was noted. The use of systemic steroids did not appear to influence risk.


CONCLUSIONS
Herpes gestationis is associated with an increase in prematurity and small-for-gestational-age infants.
Shornick
J K
JK
University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington 06030.
Black
M M
MM
D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000209:etiology; D001724:Birth Weight; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age; D008297:Male; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000209:etiology; D006559:Pemphigoid Gestationis / Q000150:complications*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012307:Risk Factors