Parvovirus as a differential diagnosis of hydrops fetalis in the first trimester

We report a case of fetal parvovirus B19 infection which appears to have re sulted in hydrops in the first trimester, An ultrasound scan performed at t he booking visit of a woman in the first trimester showed generalised oedem a, Karyotyping to exclude a fetal abnormality was normal. Maternal radioimm unoassay serological investigations showed parvovirus B19 IgG and IgM, Post -mortem analysis revealed intranuclear inclusion bodies typical of parvovir us in the erythroid cells in the liver and in the myocardium. Copyright (C) 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel.