Epstein-Barr virus infections during pregnancy. A prospective study and review of the literature.
Susceptibility to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection in 1,729 pregnant women was evaluated by screening for EBV antibodies. Fifty-eight subjects (3.4%) had no detectable EBV antibody and were presumably susceptible. Of the 54 women who agreed to participate in this study, none acquired EBV antibody during pregnancy. Our results are in general agreement with some published reports that primary EBV infection during pregnancy is rare. The role of EBV in congenital infections and perinatal morbidity remains to be defined.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D002648:Child; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005260:Female; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000151:congenital / Q000276:immunology*; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000276:immunology*; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D011446:Prospective Studies
D000914:Antibodies, Viral