Epstein–Barr virus infection during pregnancy and the risk of adverse pregnancy outcome

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Abstract
Objectives  To study the association between Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) antibody status in early pregnancy and pregnancy outcomes including fetal death, length of gestation and fetal weight and length at birth.Design  Nested control study.Setting  Population based health registers.Population  The source population comprised 35,940 pregnant women. Cases were all (280) women with fetal death and a random sample of 940 women with a live born child.Method  Information on pregnancy outcome was obtained from the Norwegian Medical Birth Registry. Serum samples from the first trimester were tested for EBV antibodies. In women seronegative for EBV, further serum from late pregnancy was analysed to detect seroconversion.Main outcome measures  Vital status, length of gestation, weight and length at birth.Results  There was no association between EBV antibody status and fetal death. Women with significant EBV reactivation had a significantly shorter duration of pregnancy, and associated lighter babies, compared with women without significant reactivation (stillborn: 176 vs 197 days, P= 0.16, and live born: 271 vs 279 days, P= 0.03, respectively).Conclusion  Significant reactivation of EBV infection during pregnancy may influence pregnancy duration.