PLACENTAL EVIDENCE OF CYTOMEGALOVIRUS-INFECTION OF THE FETUS AND NEONATE

  • 1 January 1984
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 108  (5) , 403-406
Abstract
Nine cases of congenital cytomegalovirus infection were diagnosed at Brigham and Women''s Hospital [Massachusetts, USA] from Sept., 1977 to July, 1982. The majority of infected fetuses and newborn infants had intrauterine growth retardation, congenital malformations, microcephaly or hydrops fetalis. In 4 cases, cytomegalovirus was recovered from placentas. Eight placentas were examined morphologically. Varying degrees of chronic villitis were noted in all. The most frequent lesion, found in 6 cases, was focal villous inflammation with mononuclear cell infiltrates. Lymphocytes predominated in this reaction. In 3 cases the villi were also intensely infiltrated by plasma cells. Typical cytomegalic inclusion bodies were noted in these 3 placentas. The fetus and infants in whose placentas the plasmacytic villitis and inclusion bodies were discovered displayed the most severe manifestations of cytomegalovirus infection.

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