OBJECTIVE: To determine the risk for genital herpes and asymptomatic herpes simplex virus (HSV) shedding in late pregnancy and delivery in a population of HSV type 2 (HSV-2)-seropositive but previously asymptomatic pregnant women. DESIGN: A prospective inception cohort study. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 1355 pregnant women with no history of genital herpes referred from three private obstetrics practices between November 1985 and June 1988. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Confidential questionnaires evaluated sexual risk factors in relation to HSV-2 serologic status as determined by Western blot analysis. Herpes simplex virus shedding was determined by viral culture of the cervix and vulva and of any suspicious lesions. RESULTS: Antibody to HSV-2 was detected in 439 of 1355 pregnant women (32%) with no history of genital herpes. Asymptomatic HSV shedding was detected in 5 of 1160 cultures (0.43%) obtained in late pregnancy and during delivery. A first episode of clinical genital herpes was recognized by 43 of 264 HSV-2-seropositive women (16%) during their pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: Serologic evidence of unknown HSV-2 infection was common in pregnant women without a history of genital herpes. Asymptomatic viral shedding in these women occurred at a rate similar to that seen in women with symptomatic genital HSV-2 infection. To improve recognition of genital herpes near term, obstetricians should counsel pregnant women about the high prevalence and mild and diverse symptoms of genital HSV-2 infection.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the risk for genital herpes and asymptomatic herpes simplex virus (HSV) shedding in late pregnancy and delivery in a population of HSV type 2 (HSV-2)-seropositive but previously asymptomatic pregnant women. DESIGN: A prospective inception cohort study. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 1355 pregnant women with no history of genital herpes referred from three private obstetrics practices between November 1985 and June 1988. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Confidential questionnaires evaluated sexual risk factors in relation to HSV-2 serologic status as determined by Western blot analysis. Herpes simplex virus shedding was determined by viral culture of the cervix and vulva and of any suspicious lesions. RESULTS: Antibody to HSV-2 was detected in 439 of 1355 pregnant women (32%) with no history of genital herpes. Asymptomatic HSV shedding was detected in 5 of 1160 cultures (0.43%) obtained in late pregnancy and during delivery. A first episode of clinical genital herpes was recognized by 43 of 264 HSV-2-seropositive women (16%) during their pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: Serologic evidence of unknown HSV-2 infection was common in pregnant women without a history of genital herpes. Asymptomatic viral shedding in these women occurred at a rate similar to that seen in women with symptomatic genital HSV-2 infection. To improve recognition of genital herpes near term, obstetricians should counsel pregnant women about the high prevalence and mild and diverse symptoms of genital HSV-2 infection.
Authors: A Mindel; J Taylor; R L Tideman; C Seifert; G Berry; K Wagner; J Page; C Marks; B Trudinger; A Cunningham Journal: Sex Transm Infect Date: 2000-08 Impact factor: 3.519
Authors: Keely Cheslack-Postava; Alan S Brown; Roshan Chudal; Auli Suominen; Jukka Huttunen; Helja-Marja Surcel; Andre Sourander Journal: Schizophr Res Date: 2015-05-26 Impact factor: 4.939
Authors: B Aumakhan; S J Gange; C Beyrer; C A Gaydos; H Minkoff; D J Merenstein; M H Cohen; K Anastos; R Greenblatt; M J Nowicki; T C Quinn Journal: Int J STD AIDS Date: 2011-05 Impact factor: 1.359
Authors: Rodolfo D Vicetti Miguel; Brian S Sheridan; Stephen A K Harvey; Robert S Schreiner; Robert L Hendricks; Thomas L Cherpes Journal: J Virol Date: 2010-01 Impact factor: 5.103