BACKGROUND: Over 95% of fetal complications (fetal hydrops and death) occur within 12 weeks following acute parvovirus B19 (B19) infection in pregnancy. Therefore, weekly fetal ultrasound monitoring is generally recommended for this time period. However, in the majority of women, typical symptoms of acute infection (rash or arthropathy) are absent, and during epidemics, B19 infection may be diagnosed incidentally by antibody screening of women at risk. OBJECTIVE: To assess the diagnostic value of currently available molecular and serological methods for reliable diagnosis of primary B19 infection in pregnancy. STUDY DESIGN: Large panels of well-characterized acute-phase or convalescent sera were used to investigate the ability of a VP2 IgM EIA, a Light-Cycler-based B19-DNA PCR, a VP1-IgG avidity EIA and two VP2-IgG epitope-type specificity [ETS] EIAs to pinpoint the time of primary B19 infection in pregnancy. RESULTS: The duration of low-level IgM positivity varied greatly (range 4-26 weeks). Samples collected within the first 2 weeks of infection showed high-level viremia (mean 1.75 x 10(8) geq/ml). During follow-up, low-level DNAemia (mean 9.7 x 10(4)geq/ml) persisted for at least 18 weeks in 91% (20/22) of patients. Considering the first 12 weeks after onset of disease the window of greatest risk for fetal complications, the "acute" phase was extended to cover this full period. In this case, performing the avidity and ETS-EIA sequentially, the positive predictive value was 100% in patients showing concordant avidity and ETS-EIA results. CONCLUSIONS: In the presence of low IgM titres and/or low-level DNAemia the use of supplementary serological assays such as VP1-IgG avidity EIA and VP2-ETS-EIA is advisable for restriction or avoidance of unnecessary fetal ultrasound examinations or invasive diagnostics; and in general for strengthening the reliability of B19 serodiagnosis of pregnant women.
BACKGROUND: Over 95% of fetal complications (fetal hydrops and death) occur within 12 weeks following acute parvovirus B19 (B19) infection in pregnancy. Therefore, weekly fetal ultrasound monitoring is generally recommended for this time period. However, in the majority of women, typical symptoms of acute infection (rash or arthropathy) are absent, and during epidemics, B19 infection may be diagnosed incidentally by antibody screening of women at risk. OBJECTIVE: To assess the diagnostic value of currently available molecular and serological methods for reliable diagnosis of primary B19 infection in pregnancy. STUDY DESIGN: Large panels of well-characterized acute-phase or convalescent sera were used to investigate the ability of a VP2 IgM EIA, a Light-Cycler-based B19-DNA PCR, a VP1-IgG avidity EIA and two VP2-IgG epitope-type specificity [ETS] EIAs to pinpoint the time of primary B19 infection in pregnancy. RESULTS: The duration of low-level IgM positivity varied greatly (range 4-26 weeks). Samples collected within the first 2 weeks of infection showed high-level viremia (mean 1.75 x 10(8) geq/ml). During follow-up, low-level DNAemia (mean 9.7 x 10(4)geq/ml) persisted for at least 18 weeks in 91% (20/22) of patients. Considering the first 12 weeks after onset of disease the window of greatest risk for fetal complications, the "acute" phase was extended to cover this full period. In this case, performing the avidity and ETS-EIA sequentially, the positive predictive value was 100% in patients showing concordant avidity and ETS-EIA results. CONCLUSIONS: In the presence of low IgM titres and/or low-level DNAemia the use of supplementary serological assays such as VP1-IgG avidity EIA and VP2-ETS-EIA is advisable for restriction or avoidance of unnecessary fetal ultrasound examinations or invasive diagnostics; and in general for strengthening the reliability of B19 serodiagnosis of pregnant women.
Authors: R F Lamont; J D Sobel; E Vaisbuch; J P Kusanovic; S Mazaki-Tovi; S K Kim; N Uldbjerg; R Romero Journal: BJOG Date: 2010-10-13 Impact factor: 6.531
Authors: Anna Ekman; Kati Hokynar; Laura Kakkola; Kalle Kantola; Lea Hedman; Heidi Bondén; Matthias Gessner; Claudia Aberham; Päivi Norja; Simo Miettinen; Klaus Hedman; Maria Söderlund-Venermo Journal: J Virol Date: 2007-04-04 Impact factor: 5.103
Authors: Peter A C Maple; Lea Hedman; Pravesh Dhanilall; Kalle Kantola; Visa Nurmi; Maria Söderlund-Venermo; Kevin E Brown; Klaus Hedman Journal: J Clin Microbiol Date: 2014-01-08 Impact factor: 5.948
Authors: Päivi Norja; Kati Hokynar; Leena-Maija Aaltonen; Renwei Chen; Annamari Ranki; Esa K Partio; Olli Kiviluoto; Irja Davidkin; Tomi Leivo; Anna Maria Eis-Hübinger; Beate Schneider; Hans-Peter Fischer; René Tolba; Olli Vapalahti; Antti Vaheri; Maria Söderlund-Venermo; Klaus Hedman Journal: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A Date: 2006-05-01 Impact factor: 11.205
Authors: Maria Söderlund-Venermo; Anne Lahtinen; Tuomas Jartti; Lea Hedman; Kaisa Kemppainen; Pasi Lehtinen; Tobias Allander; Olli Ruuskanen; Klaus Hedman Journal: Emerg Infect Dis Date: 2009-09 Impact factor: 6.883