title: Fetal outcome and amniocentesis results in pregnancies complicated by varicella infection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the outcome of infants born to mothers with varicella zoster virus (VZV) infection in pregnancy who had second trimester amniocentesis for detection of placental transfer.
  
  
  METHODS
  We interviewed women who had had VZV infection in pregnancy and who underwent diagnostic amniocentesis to detect transplacental infection using both polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and cell culture methods to characterize their children's clinical and psychomotor development.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty women who had a diagnosis of primary VZV during pregnancy were available for interview. The mean gestational age at which primary VZV was acquired was 11±3.5 weeks. One infant had hypospadias and developmental delay. He was born to an epileptic mother who had been treated during pregnancy with sodium valproate and clonazepam. Another infant had abnormal brainstem auditory-evoked potentials. All other infants were reported to have normal clinical and psychomotor development.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In cases of varicella infection during pregnancy, negative studies of amniotic fluid using PCR may contribute to decision making.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer. Affiliated with Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University Tel-Aviv Israel.
authors.forename: Boaz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Weisz
authors.affiliation: Central Virology Laboratory, Public Health Services, Ministry of Health, The Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer. Affiliated with Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University Tel-Aviv Israel.
authors.forename: Mazal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Book
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer. Affiliated with Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University Tel-Aviv Israel.
authors.forename: Shlomo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lipitz
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer. Affiliated with Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University Tel-Aviv Israel.
authors.forename: Eldad
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Katorza
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer. Affiliated with Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University Tel-Aviv Israel.
authors.forename: Reuven
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Achiron
authors.affiliation: Central Virology Laboratory, Public Health Services, Ministry of Health, The Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer. Affiliated with Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University Tel-Aviv Israel.
authors.forename: Zehava
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Grossman
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal QC.
authors.forename: Alon
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shrim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000649:Amniocentesis; D002644:Chickenpox / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000635:transmission*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000821:virology*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012189:Retrospective Studies