ABSTRACT
The acquisition of herpes simplex virus (HSV) in utero comprises a minority of neonatal herpes infections. Prenatal diagnosis is rare. We describe a midtrimester diagnosis of fetal HSV-2 infection. Ultrasound at 20 weeks for elevated maternal serum α-fetoprotein (MSAFP) showed lagging fetal growth, echogenic bowel, echogenic myocardium, and liver with a mottled pattern of echogenicity. Amniocentesis demonstrated normal karyotype, elevated AFP and positive acetylcholinesterase. Culture isolated HSV-2 with an aberrant growth pattern. Maternal serology was positive for HSV-2. Quantitative DNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) showed 59 million copies/ml. Fetal autopsy demonstrated widespread tissue necrosis but only sparse HSV-2 inclusions. Fetal HSV-2 infection can be suspected when an elevated MSAFP accompanies ultrasound findings suggesting perinatal infection. Maternal HSV serology, amniotic fluid culture and quantitative PCR are recommended for diagnostic certainty and counseling.
Subject(s)
Herpes Simplex/embryology , Herpesvirus 2, Human/isolation & purification , Prenatal Diagnosis , Abortion, Eugenic , Adult , Amniotic Fluid/virology , Antibodies, Viral/analysis , Female , Herpes Simplex/diagnosis , Herpes Simplex/immunology , Herpes Simplex/virology , Herpesvirus 2, Human/classification , Herpesvirus 2, Human/immunology , Humans , Molecular Typing , Patient Education as Topic , Pregnancy , Pregnancy Trimester, Second , Young Adult , alpha-Fetoproteins/analysisABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (MSAFP) values are reported to be lower in type 1 diabetic patients, and a correction factor is often applied. We sought to determine whether type 2 diabetic patients require the same MSAFP adjustments as type 1 diabetic patients. STUDY DESIGN: We performed a retrospective review of MSAFP levels from a university laboratory in type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients between July 2000 and August 2006, matched 1:2 with controls. Groups were compared using analysis of variance and Student t testing. RESULTS: Seventy-seven type 1 and 75 type 2 diabetic patients were compared with 304 controls. Type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients differed significantly from each other and controls before corrections. Diabetic patients were similar to each other, but significantly lower than controls, after weight corrections. These differences were eliminated by a 10% correction factor. CONCLUSION: Type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients require both weight and diabetes corrections to adjust MSAFP values to nondiabetic levels.
