Reactivation of human herpesvirus 6 during pregnancy.
Reactivation of human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) during pregnancy and transmission of the viruses to the fetus were investigated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and serology. In all, 104 blood samples were obtained 3 times during pregnancy and once at delivery. In another 107 women, samples were obtained only at delivery. Cord blood samples were obtained from both groups of women. HHV-6 DNA was detected in 41%-44% of the samples during months 3-8 of pregnancy, in 25% at delivery, and in 24% of age-matched controls. HHV-6 DNA was found in 1.0% of the cord blood samples. CMV DNA was detected in 1.7% of leukocytes from 104 pregnant women but in no cord blood sample. IgG antibodies to HHV-6 were found in 96% and CMV IgG in 62.5% of the women. HHV-6 IgG titers were significantly higher in HHV-6 PCR-positive women. Thus, HHV-6 reactivation seems common during pregnancy, and transfer of HHV-6 to the fetus may occur in approximately 1% of pregnancies.
Dahl
H
H
Swedish Institute for Infectious Disease Control and Microbiology and Tumorbiology Centre, Karolinska Institute, Uppsala, Sweden. Helena.Dahl@smi.ki.se
Fjaertoft
G
G
Norsted
T
T
Wang
F Z
FZ
Mousavi-Jazi
M
M
Linde
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000821:virology; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology*; D015654:Herpesvirus 6, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000821:virology*; D014775:Virus Activation
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D004279:DNA, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G