The Fetal Prognosis in Pemphigoid Gestationis (Herpes Gestationis)

Abstract

There has been much uncertainty with regard to fetal outcome in pemphigoid gestationis (formerly called herpes gestationis). The present authors have studied the infants from 50 pregnancies which were affected by the disease. They were able to estimate the fetal risk in pemphigotd gestationis by considering birth weights, gestational ages, and the incidence of small-for-gestational age infants in the study population. Ten infants (20 per cent) were delivered by cesarean section, the indications being fetal distress (5), preeclampsia (1), cord prolapse (1), placenta previa (1), and previous cesarean section (1). The indication was not clear in one patient. In the cases with fetal distress, cesarean sections were performed at 32, 34, 36, 36, and 40 weeks, respectively. Sixteen infants (32 per cent) required admission to a special care baby unit. Details of their sex, birth weights, and gestational ages are listed in Table 1. There was a significant increase in the frequency of low birth weight and small-for-gestational age infants. The deliveries were