Prenatal diagnosis and perinatal management of maternal-fetal congenital parvovirus B19 infection.
OBJECTIVE
In nonimmune pregnant woman, the primary infection with parvovirus B19 may lead to transplacental transmission to the fetus with variable outcomes, including congenital anemia, hydrops fetalis, fetal death or spontaneous resolution.


METHODS
The first case was of a 28-year-old woman, gravida 2, para 1, whose fetus was found to have left-sided pleural effusion on a sonogram at 29 weeks of gestation. A sample of aspirated pleural fluid was positive for parvovirus B19 by polymerase chain reaction. Cordocentesis showed fetal hemoglobin level of 5.0 g/dL. Intraperitoneal transfusion (IPT) was performed, because access to the fetal circulation was difficult. Thirty milliliters of group O, Rh-positive packed red cells were transfused into the peritoneal cavity. A non-hydropic baby weighing 2,680 g was delivered at 33 weeks of gestation. The neonates complete blood count examination showed a hemoglobin level of 16.3 g/dL. The newborn baby was discharged in stable condition. The second case was of a 31-year-old woman, gravida 2, para 1, whose fetus was found to have ascites, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and placentomegaly on a sonogram at 23 weeks of gestation. An amniotic fluid sample was positive for parvovirus B19 DNA by polymerase chain reaction. Fetal ascites and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy gradually resolved after maternal iron supplementation and 2 weeks of intrauterine digitalization therapy. A healthy infant weighing 3,198 g was delivered at 37 weeks of gestation. The neonates complete blood count examination showed a hemoglobin level of 10.3 g/dL.


CONCLUSIONS
Termination of pregnancy is rarely indicated, because B19 virus is not teratogenic. Although intravascular transfusion offers obvious theoretical advantages, in some cases in which access to the fetal circulation is difficult or impossible, IPT should be performed combined with appropriate medical treatment. Thus, there is still a place for IPT in modern management of the severely anemic fetus, and this technique should not be neglected.
Hsu
Shih-Tien
ST
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
Chen
Yi-Ting
YT
Huang
Ying-Fen
YF
Yeh
Tzu-Ting
TT
Chen
Wei-Chih
WC
Ho
Esther Shih-Chu
ES
Chou
Min-Min
MM
D000328:Adult; D000649:Amniocentesis; D001805:Blood Transfusion, Intrauterine; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017218:Cordocentesis; D004077:Digoxin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015160:Hydrops Fetalis; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D010322:Parvoviridae Infections / Q000151:congenital / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy / Q000635:transmission; D016732:Parvovirus B19, Human / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000628:therapy / Q000821:virology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000628:therapy / Q000821:virology; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D047928:Premature Birth; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal
D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D004077:Digoxin