National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Maternal Fetal Medicine Units Network

MFMU Network - A Registry of Maternal Varicella-Zoster
Virus Infections in Pregnancy

Related Publications & Presentations

Objective

To determine the frequency, nature and severity of congenital defects in infants born to mothers who develop varicella-zoster virus during pregnancy.

Conclusion

The frequency of clinically significant congenital varicella zoster virus is very rare in a prospectively studied population. Vertical transmission of VZV was rarely detected by serologic tests.

Clinical Centers

Magee Womens, Tennessee, USC, Wayne State, Oklahoma, Bowman Gray, Cincinnati, Ohio State, South Carolina, Chicago

Major Eligibility Criteria

• Clinical evidence of varicella virus or clinical episode of herpes zoster during pregnancy
• Informed consent

Sample Size

• Goal = 300

Scheduled Evaluations/Data Collection

• Initial Maternal:
• Demographic data, substance and maternal use, previous and current pregnancy history
• Confirmatory Seriology:
• Anti-VZV-IgG and anti-VZV-IgM 3 weeks after onset of rash/PCR for VZV DNA
• Antepartum:
• All ultrasounds, amniocenteses and PUBS following exposure to varicella
• Recommended ultrasound examinations at 16 ⁰- 20 ⁰, 26 ⁰-30 ⁰ and 34 ⁰-36 ⁰ weeks gestation
• Neonatal Serology:
• Cord blood tested for anti-VZV-IgG and anti- VZV-IGM
• Cord blood of neonates suspected of congenital infection tested for syphilis, toxoplasma gondii and cytomegalovirus
• Neonatal urine cultured for cytomegalovirus
• Neonatal:
• Physical exam, neurologic development, ophthalmologic and auditory evaluation 0-4, 10-14, 22-26 months

Outcome Measures

• Primary:
• Congenital anomaly associated with congenital varicella syndrome
• Secondary:
• Positive ant-VZV-IgM at delivery
• Effectiveness of antenatal diagnostic procedures

Timetable (as of 9/96)

• Recruitment: 03/93-03/96
• Data Collection: 03/93-05/99
• Closeout/Final Analysis: 05/99-11/99