First trimester pregnancy loss associated with varicella zoster virus infection: histological definition of a case

C E Oyer; R Cai; J J Coughlin; D B Singer

doi:10.1016/s0046-8177(98)90396-3

First trimester pregnancy loss associated with varicella zoster virus infection: histological definition of a case

Hum Pathol. 1998 Jan;29(1):94-5. doi: 10.1016/s0046-8177(98)90396-3.

Authors

C E Oyer¹, R Cai, J J Coughlin, D B Singer

Affiliation

¹ Department of Pathology, Women and Infants' Hospital and Brown University School of Medicine, Providence, RI 02905, USA.

PMID: 9445140
DOI: 10.1016/s0046-8177(98)90396-3

Abstract

Pathological demonstration of varicella infection in first trimester aborted tissue is reported. A 24-year-old primigravida manifested chickenpox infection about 38 days after her last menstrual period or at 24 days age of the embryo. The conceptus survived another 4 to 5 weeks. The macerated embryo and placental tissue revealed nuclear changes consistent with varicella infection. Immunohistochemical stains and electron microscopy were confirmatory.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Adult
Antigens, Viral / analysis
Chickenpox / pathology*
Chickenpox / transmission*
Chorionic Villi / ultrastructure
Chorionic Villi / virology
Female
Fetal Death / virology*
Herpesvirus 3, Human / isolation & purification*
Humans
Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical*
Microscopy, Electron
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / virology*
Pregnancy Trimester, First

Substances

Antigens, Viral