Intrauterine infection with coxsackievirus: is it a cause of congenital cardiac malformations?
BACKGROUND
Although maternal infections with coxsackievirus during pregnancy are relatively common, fetal infections are quite rare. Coxsackievirus infection in utero has been associated with myocarditis, but has not been proven a teratogen.


METHODS
A patient whose fetus had structural cardiac anomalies and hydrops was found to have an intrauterine infection with Coxsackie B-1 virus, proven by virus isolation from the amniotic fluid. This infection led to increasing intrauterine hydrops and subsequent neonatal death.


CONCLUSIONS
This interesting association of intrauterine infection with Coxsackie B virus and structural cardiac anomalies in the fetus warrants further investigation.
Watson
W J
WJ
Department of Perinatal Medicine Sioux Valley Hospital University of South Dakota School of Medicine 1201 S. Euclid Avenue, Ste. 204 Sioux, Falls, SD 57105, USA.
Awadallah
S
S
Jaqua
M J
MJ