title: Major brain lesions by intrauterine herpes simplex virus infection: MRI contribution.
abstract: The majority of neonatal Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) infections are acquired at birth as a consequence of direct fetal contact with the infected birth canal or through an ascending infection after premature rupture of the amniotic membranes. Intrauterine transmission of HSV infection from mother to the fetus is rare; in only 5% of the cases it occurs from haematogenous transplacental dissemination. We present a case of transplacental intrauterine HSV infection after a primary maternal HSV infection in the first trimester of pregnancy. The diagnosis was assessed by viral culture and serologic tests. Ultrasound imaging revealed fetal brain damage in the third trimester. Finally, the MRI showed the devastating extensiveness of the HSV infection, which was beyond the expectation based on the ultrasound images.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the University Hospital Maastricht, The Netherlands. lduin@sgyn.azm.nl
authors.forename: L K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Duin
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Willekes
authors.forename: M M L
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Baldewijns
authors.forename: S G F
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Robben
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Offermans
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vles
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000196:embryology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D006558:Herpes Genitalis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011859:Radiography; D014463:Ultrasonography