FETAL PARVOVIRUS B19 INFECTION AND MECONIUM PERITONITIS

A 33-year-old. primigravida at 26 weeks gestation presented with fetal hydrops and fetal anemia following prior parvovirus B19 infection, Th e fetus required two intrauterine transfusions of packed red cells, At 35 weeks gestation, a cesarean section was performed for obstetric re asons. As a consequence of a prenatal bowel perforation, the neonate d eveloped meconium peritonitis, for which she needed laparotomy, This c ase demonstrates that there may be an association between intrauterine parvovirus infection and meconium peritonitis, the latter possibly ca used by vascular injury in fetal life.