MEASLES IN PREGNANCY - A DESCRIPTIVE STUDY OF 58 CASES

Objective: To describe the effects of measles in pregnancy using a lar ge case series. Methods: Pregnant women with measles were identified b y county health department records, and their hospital and clinic reco rds were reviewed. When available, records for the infants of case pat ients were also reviewed. Results: Fifty-eight pregnant women with mea sles were identified. Thirty-five (60%) were hospitalized for measles, 15 (26%) were diagnosed with pneumonia, and two (3%) died of measles complications. Excluding three induced abortions, 18 pregnancies (31%) ended prematurely, five were spontaneous abortions and 13 were preter m deliveries. AH but two of the 18 pregnancies that terminated early d id so with 14 days of rash onset. Two term infants were born with mino r congenital anomalies, but their mothers had measles late in the thir d trimester. No newborns were diagnosed with congenital measles. Concl usions: The incidence of death and other complications from measles du ring pregnancy may be higher than expected for age-comparable, nonpreg nant women. Measles in pregnancy may lead to high rates of fetal loss and prematurity, especially in the first 2 weeks after the onset of ra sh.