title: Placental abruption possibly due to parvovirus B19 infection.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is concern about the development of anemia-associated fetal hydrops associated with maternal parvovirus B19 infection. Parvovirus B19 infection occurs via the globoside (P antigen) receptor, the main glycolipid of erythroid cells, which induces apoptosis. Similar findings have been reported for the P antigen of globoside-containing placental trophoblast cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 32-year-old woman was infected with human parvovirus B19 at week 32 of pregnancy, and had severe anemia at week 34. At week 37, an emergency cesarean section was performed because of sudden abdominal pain and fetal bradycardia; placental abruption was found. A live male infant was delivered with no sign of fetal hydrops or fetal infection. Placental tissue was positive for parvovirus B19 according to polymerase chain reaction. Immunohistochemical analysis using caspase-related M30 CytoDEATH monoclonal antibody revealed M30 staining of the placental villous trophoblasts.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Placental trophoblasts and erythroid precursor cells have been reported to express globoside (P antigen), which is necessary for parvovirus B19 infectivity, and to show apoptotic activity as a result of infection. Placentas from three other pregnancies with documented abruption showed no M30 staining.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present case strongly suggests an association between placental abruption and apoptosis resulting from parvovirus B19 infection.
authors.affiliation: Center for Maternal, Fetal and Neonatal Medicine, Saitama Medical Center, Saitama Medical University, 1981 Kamoda, Kawagoe, Saitama 350-8550 Japan.
authors.forename: Ayaka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kawabe
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Saitama Medical Center, Saitama Medical University, Kawagoe, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasushi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takai
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Saitama Medical Center, Saitama Medical University, 1981 Kamoda, Kawagoe, Saitama 350-8550 Japan.
authors.forename: Jun-Ichi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tamaru
authors.affiliation: Center for Maternal, Fetal and Neonatal Medicine, Saitama Medical Center, Saitama Medical University, 1981 Kamoda, Kawagoe, Saitama 350-8550 Japan.
authors.forename: Kouki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Samejima
authors.affiliation: Center for Maternal, Fetal and Neonatal Medicine, Saitama Medical Center, Saitama Medical University, 1981 Kamoda, Kawagoe, Saitama 350-8550 Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Seki
keywords: Apoptosis; Human parvovirus B19; Neonatal asphyxia; Placental abruption; Pregnancy