title: Hydrops fetalis from B19 parvovirus infection.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill 27599-7570.
authors.forename: V L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Katz
authors.forename: N C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Chescheir
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bethea
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001201:Ascites; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death; D006801:Humans; D015160:Hydrops Fetalis / Q000473:pathology; D010322:Parvoviridae Infections / Q000473:pathology; D010922:Placenta Diseases; D010996:Pleural Effusion; D011247:Pregnancy