Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Campos A, Sandhyala A, In utero varicella zoster virus infection. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 14 Jan 2025) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-15194
An in utero varicella zoster virus infection is an infrequent type of in utero infection. The clinical features can be diverse and variable depending on the stage of gestation.
Epidemiology
Fetal infection with varicella is unusual due to most women of childbearing age being immune. The estimated frequency is generally very low at ~ 0.4% of pregnancies according to one study 2.
Pathology
The mechanism of congenital malformations caused by varicella-zoster virus seems to be not due to fetal varicella but to the development of herpes zoster in utero and to an encephalitis associated with herpes zoster 3. Maternal infection during the 1st and 2nd trimesters can give the congenital varicella syndrome which includes 6
Infection in the third trimester is not associated with it, but the infant may develop herpes zoster during the first one or two years. Maternal infection just before or after delivery presents a high risk for disseminated varicella in the infant.
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2. Harger JH, Ernest JM, Thurnau GR et-al. Frequency of congenital varicella syndrome in a prospective cohort of 347 pregnant women. Obstet Gynecol. 2002;100 (2): 260-5. - Pubmed citation
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3. Higa K, Dan K, Manabe H. Varicella-Zoster Virus Infections During Pregnancy: Hypothesis Concerning the Mechanisms of Congenital Malformations. Obstet Gynecol. 1987;69(2):214-22. - Pubmed
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5. Gardella C & Brown Z. Managing Varicella Zoster Infection in Pregnancy. Cleve Clin J Med. 2007;74(4):290-6. doi:10.3949/ccjm.74.4.290 - Pubmed
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6. Sauerbrei A, Wutzler P. The congenital varicella syndrome. J Perinatol. 2000;20 (8 Pt 1): 548-54. - Pubmed citation
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7. Enders G, Miller E, Cradock-Watson J, Bolley I, Ridehalgh M. Consequences of Varicella and Herpes Zoster in Pregnancy: Prospective Study of 1739 Cases. Lancet. 1994;343(8912):1548-51. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(94)92943-2 - Pubmed
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8. Paryani S & Arvin A. Intrauterine Infection with Varicella-Zoster Virus After Maternal Varicella. N Engl J Med. 1986;314(24):1542-6. doi:10.1056/NEJM198606123142403 - Pubmed
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