Association of hypospadias and cardiac defect in a Parvovirus B19-infected stillborn: A causality relation?

Abstract

Parvovirus B19 intrauterine infection is a known cause of hydrops fetalis and fetal death. It is also associated with congenital malformations, although the teratogenic potential seems to be low. Postmortem examination of a male stillborn of 29 gestational weeks revealed mild subcutaneous edema, malformed micropenis, perineoscrotal hypospadias and atrial septal defect, along with fetal erythroblastosis and villitis. Polymerase chain reaction detected Parvovirus B19 DNA genome in tissues from the fetus and the placenta, confirming the hypothesis of an intrauterine infection.