Antenatal diagnosis of intrauterine infection with coxsackievirus B3 associated with live birth.
BACKGROUND
Prior reported cases of stillbirth and neonates infected with enteroviruses suggest transplacental infection. We present a case of fetal infection with coxsackievirus B3, diagnosed antenatally and resulting in live birth.


METHODS
A pregnant woman presented at 26 weeks with fetal tachycardia and non-immune hydrops fetalis. Coxsackievirus B3 was cultured from amniotic fluid. Maternal antibody to coxsackievirus B3 was positive at 1:512. At 32 weeks, the fetus deteriorated and was delivered. Cord blood antibody to coxsackievirus B3 was positive at a higher titer. Following neonatal death, brain and placental tissues were positive for enterovirus ribonucleic acid by polymerase chain reaction.


CONCLUSIONS
Intrauterine infection by enteroviruses should be considered in the differential diagnosis of non-immune hydrops fetalis. Antenatal diagnosis of coxsackievirus B3 infection is associated with poor outcome.
Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Ottawa, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. aouellet@ottawahospital.on.ca
Annie
A
Ouellet
Rebecca
R
Sherlock
Baldwin
B
Toye
Karen Fung Kee
KF
Fung
D000328:Adult; D003384:Coxsackievirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000821:virology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D029822:Enterovirus B, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000821:virology; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third
D004279:DNA, Viral