Parvovirus B19 infection in pregnancy

Transplacental transmission of human parvovirus B19 (B19 virus) to the fetu s is an important cause of intrauterine death, abortion, stillbirth, and no nimmune hydrops fetalis. Adverse outcome of pregnancy can occur after sympt omatic and asymptomatic maternal infection. Only rare cases of congenital m alformations and fetal disease in live-born infants have been associated wi th intrauterine B19 virus infection. Laboratory results obtained from paire d maternal and fetal cord blood samples indicate that a reliable diagnosis of fetal B19 virus infection should be based on detection of parvovirus B19 DNA.