Rubella virus infection and fetal congenital heart diseases

Abstract

Objective To investigate the fetal congenital heart diseases (CHD) caused by rubella virus infection, and to explore the methods for prenatal diagnosis of congenital rubella syndrome. Methods The rubella virus-specific IgM of cord blood were tested by ELISA in 38 fetuses with CHD detected by echocardiography after which the pregnancies were terminated. Results Eighteen (47. 4%) out of the 38 fetuses showed IgM( + ) and 20 were IgM( -). The most common seen cardiac abnormalities in the 18 IgM( + ) cases were ventricular septal defect (n = 10), pulmonary artery dysplasia(n = 9), abnormal atrioventricular valves(n = 6), transposition of the great arteries (n = 5) and aortic saddle(n=4). The number of cases with congenital conotruncal defects in IgM( + ) and IgM(-) groups were 11(61.1%) and 5(25.0%), respectively (P<0. 05). Conclusions Rubella virus may influence the development of fetal ventricles and conotruncus. Ultrasound detection of ventricular septal defect, pulmonary artery dysplasia, abnormal heart valves, transposition of the great arteries should alert the clinicians of rubella virus infection. Key words: Heart defects, congenital; Rubivirus infections; Fetal diseases