A Case of Fetal Parvovirus B19 Myocarditis That Caused Terminal Heart Failure. (24th September 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hichijo, Atsuko; Morine, Mikio
• Other Names: Cosmi Erich Academic Editor.
• Is Part Of: Case reports in obstetrics and gynecology. Volume 2014(2014)
• Publication Date: 2014-09-24
• Subjects: Obstetrics -- Periodicals; Gynecology -- Periodicals; Generative organs, Female -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Obstetrics; Gynecology; Genital Diseases, Female; Generative organs, Female -- Diseases; Gynecology; Obstetrics; Electronic journals; Periodicals; Periodicals; 618
• DOI: 10.1155/2014/463571
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2090-6684

Abstract

Abstract : Parvovirus B19 is a well-established cause of fetal anemia and nonimmune fetal hydrops in pregnancy. Fetal parvovirus infection can cause severe destruction of erythroid progenitor cells, resulting in fetal anemia, hydrops, and intrauterine death. However, viral myocarditis with subsequent heart failure is another possible mechanism for hydrops formation as viral infection of fetal myocardial cells has been reported in postmortem examinations. We herein report a case of fetal cardiomegaly and massive pericardial effusion secondary to myocarditis as a result of parvovirus B19 infection. The case developed hydrops as consequence of severe anemia and experienced terminal heart failure, which led to the fetus dying an intrauterine death at 22 weeks of gestation. This case demonstrates that there may be an association between myocarditis caused by intrauterine parvovirus B19 infection and a poor outcome. The presence of viral myocarditis may be the determining prognostic factor in that situation.