Objective: Since mumps infection is endemic, the occurrence of acute mumps infection during pregnancy is rare. As a result, data on the possible negative consequences of acute mumps infection on pregnancy outcome are limited.
Patients and methods: The clinical diagnosis of acute mumps infection was serologically confirmed in 79 pregnant women between January 1985 and December 2002. Data on pregnancy outcome were obtained from the gynaecologist or obstetrician. Cord blood from 26 of the 57 live-born infants was investigated for mumps-specific IgM and IgG antibodies by enzyme-linked immunoassay.
Results: Sixty-two patients were prospectively followed up with respect to pregnancy outcome. Two of the 62 pregnancies were electively terminated. The overall rate of fetal loss was 6.6% (4/60). Only 2 cases of spontaneous abortion occurred during the first trimester. However, all 4 spontaneous abortions occurred in women who had contracted mumps infection during the first trimester. The time interval between mumps infection and fetal loss varied widely. The median gestational age at delivery was 40 weeks. Only 2 of the 57 live-born infants (3.5%) were delivered before completion of the 37th week of pregnancy. Mumps-specific IgM anti-bodies were not detected in any of the 26 cord blood samples tested.
Conclusion: The lack of mumps-specific antibodies in the cord blood samples tested suggests that prenatal mumps infection did not occur. The frequency of premature birth and spontaneous abortion following mumps infection in pregnancy does not appear to be increased over normal levels.