Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine · 1992 · 149 citations · 0 references
MedicineInfectious DiseasesObstetricsMaternal-fetal MedicineObstetric ComplicationsObstetric UltrasoundCongenital InfectionsFetal ImagingInfant Infectious DiseasesObstetric UltrasonographyPerinatal InfectionPrenatal Risk AssessmentFetal Infection RiskMaternal Varicella-zoster Virus InfectionMaternal-fetal Infection InvestigationPrenatal Infection DiagnosisPrenatal Viral InfectionRelative Risk EstimationVaricella InfectionVaricella-zoster Virus Infections
We reviewed 37 cases of mothers who had varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infection during early pregnancy, who subsequently underwent fetal sonography in the 13th to 37th week of gestation. Of the five infants later shown to have congenital varicella infection at postnatal examination (1 case) or autopsy (4 cases), all showed ultrasonographic abnormalities suggesting infection, and all died by 4 months of age. None of the 32 unaffected infants demonstrated in utero ultrasonographic abnormalities. No statements about relative risk of being affected by the virus can be made from this data.