1120 PREVALENCE OF GENITAL HERPES AND/OR HERPES SIMPLEX VIRUS TYPE 2 (HSV-2) ANTIBODIES IN TWO OBSTETRIC POPULATIONS

Abstract

Since the pregnant woman's HSV infected genital tract is the source of virus in most cases of neonatal herpes, monitoring in the last trimester for genital virus in a woman with a history in herself or her partner is currently recommended as a method of possible prevention by C-section. We have examined the prevalence of a history of genital herpes, as well as measured HSV-2 antibodies (with an immunodot ELISA on nitrocellulose paper using a purified HSV-2 typespecific glycoprotein, gG-2) in two obstetric populations: a low socioeconomic (LS) group of 300 women and a middle class HMO group of 187 women. The prevalence of genital herpes in pregnant women by history in LS was 3.5% and in HMO 10%; including a history of genital herpes in the male partner, the rates were 1% and 13% respectively. The rates of HSV-2 antibodies in the pregnant women were 49% (LS) and 33% (HMO). Variability in history and antibody rates was noted according to age, race and awareness of the clinical entity of genital herpes. We conclude: (a) that a high proportion of obstetric patients are at some risk for transmitting HSV to their infants; (b) the current monitoring policy needs to be modified.The changing patterns of neonatal herpes as a consequence of the above, as well as other current findings to be discussed, will affect any new approaches to management of this severe neonatal problem.