title: [Relationship between human parvovirus B19 infection and spontaneous abortion].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether there is a relationship between parvovirus B19 infection and spontaneous abortion.
  
  
  METHODS
  105 embryo tissues from spontaneous abortions of unknown cause during 1994-1995 were studied using nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for parvovirus B19 DNA. As controls 40 fetal tissues were also examined. Among which, 20 were collected from induced abortions, and the others were stillbirths. The positive specimens underwent further study for TORCH infections.
  
  
  RESULTS
  26 (24.5%) were B19 DNA positive in the case group and 2 (5.0%) in the control group. The difference was significant (P < 0.05). Among 26 positive specimens, 5 had cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection as well as 2 had both CMV and herpes simplex virus (RSV) infections.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Parvovirus B19 infection may be an important pathogen for spontaneous abortion, and it is suggested to investigate parvovirus B19 infection among pregnant women in China.
authors.affiliation: Wuhan General Hospital of Guangzhou Command.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Han
mesh_terms: D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000209:etiology / Q000821:virology*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010322:Parvoviridae Infections; D016732:Parvovirus B19, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000821:virology*
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral