Herpes simplex virus 2 infection rate and necessity of screening during pregnancy: a clinical and seroepidemiologic study.
OBJECTIVE
This study determined the seroprevalence of herpes virus 2 in gravidas and the differences between herpes virus 2-infected and healthy gravidas. The need to screen gravidas for herpes virus 2 was also evaluated.


METHODS
A retrospective analysis involving 500 gravidas who underwent herpes virus 2 serologic testing and delivery in our hospital between January 2009 and August 2010 was performed. All patients in the study group were classified as herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV2) positive, and all cases were analyzed with respect to the clinical course of the pregnancy, pregnancy outcome, obstetric complications, and neonatal outcomes. SPSS software (version 14.0) was used for statistical analysis. A chi-square test and Student's t-test were used for statistical analysis.


RESULTS
In the current study, the herpes virus 2 seroprevalence rate in gravidas was 17%. There was no significant difference in the rates of preterm delivery, premature rupture of membranes, preterm labor, and intrauterine growth restriction between the herpes virus 2-infected gravidas and the healthy control group. The rates of spontaneous abortion and sexually transmitted disease were higher in the herpes virus 2 infection group than the healthy control group.


CONCLUSIONS
After educating gravidas on genital herpes and, if gravidas thereafter consent to herpes virus 2 screening, the risk of neonatal herpes virus 2 infections can be reduced. In addition, examination of gravidas for sexually transmitted diseases would increase as would appropriate treatment.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Grace Women's Hospital, 1334 Baekseok-dong, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang 410-360, Korea. kimid@hanmail.net
Il Dong
ID
Kim
Ho Sun
HS
Chang
Kyung Jin
KJ
Hwang
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006558:Herpes Genitalis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D006561:Herpes Simplex; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D012189:Retrospective Studies