PERINATAL OUTCOME OF PREGNANCIES COMPLICATED WITH VARICELLA INFECTIONDURING THE FIRST 20 WEEKS OF GESTATION

Varicella-Zoster (V-Z) virus infection during pregnancy is uncommon. N evertheless, it has importance due to the risk of vertical transmissio n of the infection and also because of a higher morbidity rate among p regnant women. The cases of varicella infection that occur in the firs t and second trimesters of pregnancy are occasionally associated to th e development of congenital varicella syndrome. We studied 22 women wh ose pregnancy was complicated with varicella during the first 20 weeks of gestation. The average age of these patients was 20 +/- 3.6 years with a range of 16 to 20 years. None of the patients presented complic ations due to the V-Z virus infection. Two pregnancies finalized in pr eterm labor. None of the newborns had congenital anormalies; one prese nted microcephaly, and another low birth weight. There was no signific ant difference between the infants of women with varicella and thise o f the controls in birth weight, size, and head circumference. We concl uded that varicella infection during the first 20 weeks of gestation w as not associated with serious maternal morbidity, and has low repercu ssion in the pregnancy outcome and the fetus.