Intrauterine Infection With Coxsackievirus: Is It a Cause of Congenital Cardiac Malformations?

Abstract

Background: Although maternal infections with coxsackievirus during pregnancy are relatively common, fetal infections are quite rare. Coxsackievirus infection in utero has been associated with myocarditis, but has not been proven a teratogen. Case: A patient whose fetus had structural cardiac anomalies and hydrops was found to have an intrauterine infection with Coxsackie B-1 virus, proven by virus isolation from the amniotic fluid. This infection led to increasing intrauterine hydrops and subsequent neonatal death. Conclusion: This interesting association of intrauterine infection with Coxsackie B virus and structural cardiac anomalies in the fetus warrants further investigation. © 1995, Wiley-Liss, Inc.