title: Isolated fetal hyperechogenic bowel associated with intra-uterine parvovirus B19 infection.
abstract: We report a case of fetal hyperechogenic bowel diagnosed at midgestation that was associated with fetal parvovirus B19 infection. Isolated hyperechogenic bowel was detected at 25 weeks. Cystic fibrosis, chromosomal abnormalities and cytomegalovirus infection were excluded, whereas polymerase chain reaction DNA for parvovirus B 19 was found positive on amniotic fluid. The hyperechogenic bowel decreased with complete resolution by 32 weeks of gestation. No other signs of fetal B19 infection were detected prenatally and the baby had normal postnatal outcome. This case provides additional arguments in favor of a possible intestinal tropism of parvovirus B19 during fetal life. Fetal B19 infection should be systematically incorporated in the prenatal evaluation of isolated fetal hyperechogenic bowel.
authors.affiliation: Service de Gynécologie-Obstétrique, Hôpital Rothschild AP-HP Paris XII, Paris, France. jean-marie.jouanninc@rth.ap-hop-paris.fr
authors.forename: Jean-Marie
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Jouannic
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gavard
authors.forename: Joël
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Créquat
authors.forename: Françoise
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Muller
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Serero
authors.forename: Jean-Louis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Bénifla
authors.forename: Jean-Marc
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Costa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007410:Intestinal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000821:virology; D010322:Parvoviridae Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000821:virology; D016732:Parvovirus B19, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal