Persistent Epstein-Barr Virus Infection and Pregnancy

• Published in: The Journal of infectious diseases Vol. 147; no. 6; pp. 982 - 986
• Main Authors: Fleisher, Gary, Bolognese, Ronald
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States The University of Chicago Press 01.06.1983; University of Chicago Press
• Subjects: Antibodies; Antibodies, Viral - immunology; Antigens; Clinical Investigation; Congenital Abnormalities - etiology; Epstein Barr virus infections; Epstein-Barr virus; Female; First trimester of pregnancy; Herpesvirus 4, Human - immunology; Human herpesvirus 4; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Newborn, Diseases - microbiology; Infants; Infections; Jaundice; Maternal-Fetal Exchange; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious - microbiology; Pregnancy Trimester, First; Pregnancy Trimester, Third; Viruses
• ISSN: 0022-1899; 1537-6613
• DOI: 10.1093/infdis/147.6.982

Women seropositive for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) were studied during pregnancy for reactivation of latent, persistent infection. Individual women usually (94%) maintained constant titers of antibodies to EBV-specific antigens, including viral capsid antigen, early antigen, and EBV-associated nuclear antigen. The geometric mean titer of the EBV-specific antibodies was constant throughout gestation. Pregnant women did, however, differ from control subjects in that they significantly more often had antibodies to early antigen (anti-EA) (55% vs. 22%–32%). Infants born to women with anti-EA had the same incidence of low birth weight, congenital anomalies, and neonatal jaundice as did the offspring of women without anti-EA. Within the limitations of the sample, our data suggest that reactivation of latent, persistent EBV infection occurs early during gestation but that this reactivation does not adversely affect the fetus.