Immunoglobulins in umbilical cord plasma. II. Congenital deformities, other abnormalities, and multiple pregnancies.

Abstract

The association between maternal rubella infection in the first trimester ofpregnancy and congenital malformations of the infant is well recognized. In the case of other virus infections of early pregnancy, the relation is less certain, and though suspicion has been attached to certain viruses, particularly mumps (Ylinen and Jarvinen, 1953) and influenza (Coffey and Jessop, 1959, 1963), some series of influenza cases have shown no such relation (Walker and McKee, 1959; Wilson, Heins, Imagawa, and Adams, 1959). Other infections of the foetus may also cause structural abnormalities of the foetus, e.g. toxoplasmosis infection may be associated with hydrocephalus and microphthalmia.