Pregnancy loss ascribable to parvovirus B19/erythrovirus is associated with a high prevalence of trisomy.

Introduction: In most cases of stillbirth, the cause is still unknown.

Aim: The impact of parvovirus B19/erythrovirus infection and chromosomal abnormalities in stillborns and neonatal deaths.

Material And Methods: 57 consecutive cases, 23 second-trimester abortions (from gestational weeks 16 to 22), 27 intrauterine fetal deaths (from gestational week 22 onwards) and 7 early neonatal deaths were examined for intrauterine parvovirus B19 infection with PCR, dot blot, Southern blot, in situ hybridization, specific IgM and IgG antibodies in maternal serum, fetal serum, placenta and fetal liver tissue.