Perinatal Outcome of Pregnancies Complicated with Varicella Infection During the First 20 Weeks of Gestation

ABSTRACT

Varicella-Zoster (V-Z) virus infection during pregnancy is uncommon. Nevertheless, it has importance due to the risk of vertical transmission of the infection and also because of a higher morbidity rate among pregnant women. The cases of varicella infection that occur in the first and second trimesters of pregnancy are occasionally associated to the development of congenital varicella syndrome. We studied 22 women whose pregnancy was complicated with varicella during the first 20 weeks of gestation. The average age of these patients was 20 ± 3.6 years with a range of 16 to 20 years. None of the patients presented complications due to the V-Z virus infection. Two pregnancies finalized in preterm labor. None of the newborns had congenital anormalies; one presented microcephaly, and another low birth weight. There was no significant difference between the infants of women with varicella and thise of the controls in birth weight, size, and head circumference. We concluded that varicella infection during the first 20 weeks of gestation was not associated with serious maternal morbidity, and has low repercussion in the pregnancy outcome and the fetus.

Keywords

Varicella - microcephaly - preterm labor - low birth weight