Placental Examination in Intrauterine Coinfection with Herpes Simplex Virus and Cytomegalovirus

Abstract

Intrauterine coinfections have rarely been reported. However, pregnancies exposed to multiple sexually transmitted infectious agents and drugs are likely to occur with increasing frequency and lead to complex pathology in the newborn. Often it will be difficult to establish a diagnosis, above all when this has to be done retrospectively. A premature (34 weeks) newborn presented with a complex clinical picture after exposure to multiple infectious and noninfectious teratogens during gestation. Immunocytochemical staining of the placental membranes and parenchyma suggested intrauterine coinfection by herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 2 and cytomegalovirus. This case illustrates the importance of careful placental investigation with modern techniques for the diagnosis of intrauterine HSV infection and coinfections.

Key Words:

• cytomegalovirus
• herpes simplex
• intrauterine coinfection
• placenta