PLACENTAL EXAMINATION IN INTRAUTERINE COINFECTION WITH HERPES-SIMPLEXVIRUS AND CYTOMEGALOVIRUS

Intrauterine coinfections have rarely been reported. However, pregnanc ies exposed to multiple sexually transmitted infectious agents and dru gs are likely to occur with increasing frequency and lead to complex P athology in the newborn. Often it will be difficult to establish a dia gnosis, above all when this has to be done retrospectively. A prematur e (34 weeks) newborn presented with a complex clinical picture after e xposure to multiple infectious and noninfectious teratogens during ges tation. Immunocytochemical staining of the placental membranes and par enchyma suggested intrauterine coinfection by herpes simplex virus (HS V) type 2 and cytomegalovirus. This case illustrates the importance of careful placental investigation with modern techniques for the diagno sis of intrauterine HSV infection and coinfections.