Parvovirus B19 Infection Frequency in Placenta of Fetal Loss Cases in Children Medical Center, Tehran, Iran

Infection with parvovirus may induce spontaneous abortion, nonimmune hydrops fetalis, and intrauterine death in full term infants. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of parvovirus B19 in paraffin-embedded formalin fixed placental tissues in lost fetuses by PCR method and comparison with its frequency in healthy full term neonates as controls. In a case control study, thirty-one formalin fixed paraffin embedded placental tissue from autopsies related to fetal losses and also the same number of control cases were collected and the PCR for internal control and target sequence were performed. Thirty-one subjects and 31 controls were enrolled and three out of 31 cases were positive for parvovirus (9.7%) using PCR. Hydropic changes were noted in two of positive cases for parvovirus. Parvovirus B19 infection during pregnancy may cause red precursor cells damage resulting in anemia and congestive heart failure. We suggest that studies with greater sample sizes are carried out to determine the frequency and management of parvovirus B19 infection because of timely diagnosis and transfusion of severe hydropic fetuses can reduce the risk of fetal death.