title: Placental histopathology after Coxiella burnetii infection during pregnancy.
abstract: Symptomatic and asymptomatic Coxiella burnetii infection during pregnancy have been associated with obstetric complications. We described placental histopathology and clinical outcome of five cases with asymptomatic C. burnetii infection during pregnancy and compared these cases with four symptomatic cases from the literature. In contrast with the symptomatic cases, we did not observe necrosis or active inflammation in the placentas of the asymptomatic women. Obstetrical outcome was more favourable in the asymptomatic cases than in the symptomatic cases. Asymptomatic and symptomatic C. burnetii infection during pregnancy are different entities with respect to placental histopathology and the risk of obstetric complications.
authors.affiliation: University of Groningen, University Medical Centre Groningen, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ, Groningen, The Netherlands. j.munster@umcg.nl
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Munster
authors.forename: A C A P
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Leenders
authors.forename: C J C M
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Hamilton
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hak
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Aarnoudse
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Timmer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016997:Coxiella burnetii; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010920:Placenta / Q000473:pathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000473:pathology*; D011778:Q Fever / Q000473:pathology*