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Semin Neurol 2011; 31(4): 404-412
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1293540
© Thieme Medical Publishers

Neuroinfectious Diseases in Pregnancy

Kelly Jo Baldwin1 , Karen L. Roos2
  • 1Department of Neurology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia
  • 2Department of Neurology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
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Publication History

Publication Date:
23 November 2011 (online)

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ABSTRACT

Pregnancy is associated with impaired T-cell-mediated immunity putting the woman at risk for infectious diseases not typically seen in immunocompetent individuals. When maternal infection is severe, and when a primary herpesvirus infection is acquired during pregnancy, there is a risk of fetal loss, maternal death, neonatal death, or congenital abnormalities from intrauterine infection. In this review, the authors emphasize specific neurologic infectious diseases that occur in pregnancy, the safety of the antimicrobial therapy of these diseases during pregnancy, as well as the congenital and neonatal sequelae of infection.

KEYWORDS

Listeria monocytogenes, herpes simplex virus - varicella zoster virus - cytomegalovirus - toxoplasmosis - West Nile virus - H1N1

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Kelly J BaldwinM.D. 

PGY 3 Resident, Department of Neurology, West Virginia University

P.O. Box 9180, Morgantown, WV 26506

Email: kbaldwin@hsc.wvu.edu