Pregnancy during Convalescence from Cytomegalovirus Mononucleosis

Abstract

A young woman of 19 developed cytomegalovirus (CMV) mononucleosis. No antibodies to the virus were demonstrable in the first serum sample. A rise in titre was established during the disease and the virus was isolated from the urine. She became pregnant during convalescence after being afebrile for only a week. Therapeutic abortion was performed in the beginning of the third month of gestation. CMV was recovered from the washings of the total yield of curettage but not from the cultures of various foetal organs or from a pool of minced foetal tissues. In various foetal organs and in the placenta no abnormal anatomical or histological changes were demonstrable, the chromosomal picture of foetal cultures was normal and attempts to isolate the virus gave negative results. The early interruption of pregnancy or the presence of maternal antibodies at the start of gestation may explain the lack of demonstrable foetal involvement.