Fifth Disease and Pregnancy

This study was designed to estimate the risk of fetal loss and congenital abnormalities after maternal human parvovirus B19 infection and to assess the long-term outcome for surviving infants. There were 427 pregnant women with B19 infection and 367 surviving infants, of whom 129 were followed up at the age of 7-10 years.

The excess rate of fetal loss in the infected women was confined to the first 20 weeks of gestation and averaged 9%. Seven cases of fetal hydrops/edema followed maternal infections between 9 and 20 weeks of gestation. No abnormalities attributable to B19 infection were found at birth in surviving infants, and no late effects were noted at follow up of the offspring at 7-10 years.

Conclusion: About 1 in 10 women infected before 20 weeks of gestation will suffer a fetal loss due to infection with human parvovirus B19. The risk of an adverse outcome after this stage is remote, however, a seronegative pregnant woman who is exposed to many young children may benefit from immunoglobulin for protection. R.A.

(Miller E et al. Outcome of human parvovirus B19 infection in pregnancy. Brit J Obst Gynecol 1998; 105:174-178)