Primary herpes simplex virus infection in pregnancy outcomes

Abstract

Objective: The study of herpes virus infection during pregnancy is necessary because of high rate of perinatal losses and birth of babies with severe brain damages. It's well known that most severe fetal diseases take place in the first episode of genital herpetic infection during current pregnancy.

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Methods: We analyzed pregnancy histories of 12868 patients delivered in Center in 5 years period and selected only 6 cases with the confirmed first episode of genital herpes during current pregnancy.

Results: 2 cases ofpregnancy terminated by spontaneous abortion in 21 and 26 weeks of gestation. The both fetuses had intrauterine growth retardation on 3-4 weeks and generalised herpetic infection. Morphological study of placentas showed its severe herpetic disease and decompensated form of placental insufficiency. In 4 cases - pregnancy teminated on the 32-40 weeks of gestation. Newborns died on the 7 th-40 th day of delivery. In all cases, morphological changes had been presented by local and diffuse herpetic meningoencephalitis and in one case we always found revealed porencephalic cysts.

Conclusion: So, primary herpes virus infection is rare form of infection during pregnancy, but it can lead to severe perinatal outcomes.