Hydrops Fetalis Secondary to Parvovirus B19 Infections

Background: Fetal infection by human parvovirus B19 is a common cause of fetal anemia, nonimmune hydrops fetalis, and spontaneous abortion and can result in fetal death. Recent improvements in diag-nosing parvovirus infections and the availability of intrauterine transfusion have reduced the overall rate of fetal loss after maternal exposure. Methods: We report two cases of maternal parvovirus infection with classic findings of hydrops fetalis and review various aspects of parvovirus infection with emphasis on the developing management op-tions in pregnancy. Results and Conclusions: Different management led to different results. In the first case there was normal neonatal and infantile development, and in the second case, the fetus died. With accurate labo-ratory testing, obstetric sonography, and fetal transfusion, the fetal mortality from parvovirus infection has been reduced considerably, and most pregnancies complicated by maternal parvovirus infection result in healthy outcomes. (J Am Board Fam Pract 2003;16:63–8.) Parvovirus B19 was first discovered by Cossart and colleagues in 19751 in the sera of asymptomatic patients being screened for hepatitis B infection. I