Parvovirus infection in pregnancy

The parvovirus infection, an infection of extremely small DNA viruses, caused the death of a 20-week-old fetus suffering from hydrops fetalis, a condition resulting in massive amounts of fluid in body tissues (edema). Although 30 to 50 percent of women are susceptible to a parvovirus infection, the consequences of an infection in pregnancy are not well known. The fetus is at great risk of infection after the virus passes into the placenta. Reported cases of the infection in pregnancy are reviewed.