Inhibition of antibody formation in intrauterine varicella virus infection.

Serological and clinical follow-up of 35 pregnancies complicated with varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infection showed insufficient antibody response in 2 children with undetectable IgG levels in ELISA and indirect haemagglutination (IHA) test. Secondary infection with VZV at the age of 4 1/2 years of the first child and inapparent infection at the age of 4 years and 3 months in the second child born with congenital varicella lead to seroconversion against VZV. None of the children in question developed acquired varicella primoinfection. We believe that a temporary specific inhibition of antibody formation was caused by transplacentar transmission of maternal antibodies into foetal circulation.