Unusual high rate of asymptomatic maternal parvovirus B19 infection associated with severe fetal outcome

Abstract

Objective. To study the role of asymptomatic maternal parvo B19 infection in severe fetal outcome in Province of Vojvodina.

Methods. One hundred seventy-six pregnant women (13–25 weeks of gestation) were divided in two groups – patients with symptoms of imminent spontaneous abortion and poor pregnancy outcome and patients with normal course of pregnancy. Double serum samples were analyzed to quantify IgM and IgG to parvovirus B19.

Results. Among pregnant women with symptoms of spontaneous abortion, we found significantly higher percentage of acute parvovirus B19 infection.

Conclusions. Asymptomatic parvo B19 infection is associated with poor fetal outcome much more than we presumed previously.

Keywords:

• Parvovirus B19
• asymptomatic infection
• spontaneous abortion

Acknowledgements

The work was supported by the grant of Provincial Secretariat for Science and Technological Development of Vojvodina (Grant No. 114-451-00592).