Herpes Simplex Virus Cervicitis Mimicking Preterm Premature Rupture of Membranes.
BACKGROUND
The diagnosis of preterm premature rupture of membranes (PROM) is based on pooling, ferning, and Nitrazine tests; definitive diagnosis is made with a blue dye test.


METHODS
A 21-year-old woman, gravida 1 para 0, at 25 5/7 weeks of gestation was admitted for preterm PROM with positive findings of pooling, Nitrazine, and ferning. Her cervix was bluish with white plaques. Amniotic fluid volume was normal. On hospital day 8, her discharge ceased; examination was negative for pooling, Nitrazine, and ferning. A blue dye tampon test was negative. A Pap test result from her hospitalization returned consistent with herpes infection.


CONCLUSIONS
The diagnosis of preterm PROM should be constantly reevaluated in the setting of a normal amniotic fluid volume.
Johns Hopkins Hospital Bayview Medical Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland.
Christina N
CN
Cordeiro
Janyne
J
Althaus
Anne
A
Burke
Cynthia
C
Argani
D000212:Acyclovir / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D000328:Adult; D000653:Amniotic Fluid; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005322:Premature Rupture of Fetal Membranes / Q000175:diagnosis*; D058869:Gynecological Examination / Q000379:methods; D006558:Herpes Genitalis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D065006:Papanicolaou Test / Q000379:methods*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D002575:Uterine Cervicitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D000077483:Valacyclovir; D014633:Valine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D014633:Valine; D000077483:Valacyclovir; D000212:Acyclovir