Fetal varicella-herpes zoster syndrome in early pregnancy: ultrasonographic and morphological correlation

We report a case of all intrauterine fetal infection by the varicella-herpes tester virus following maternal varicella at 17 weeks' amenorrhea. Prenatal diagnosis of fetal infection was confirmed by serology and fetal damage by ultrasonography. Autopsy of the fetus showed multiorgan manifestation with disseminated foci of necrosis and microcalcifications, encephalitis and unilateral segmental skin scarring with an underlying hypoplastic fixed lower limb. The placenta showed a multifocal chronic villitis with multinucleated giant cells. The lesions included segmental anomalies and multiorgan damage. Copyright (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.