Hydrops fetalis from B19 parvovirus infection.

Human B19 parvovirus infection may be associated with hydrops fetalis and perinatal loss. This report documents a case of unexplained elevation of maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein with normal amniotic fluid alpha-fetoprotein before hydrops and in the absence of placental inflammatory reaction. More than 14 weeks elapsed from maternal exposure until fetal death. Both antenatal and histologic evidence suggest that a fetal myocarditis preceded the hydrops. This case corroborates two previous reports of infection by B19 parvovirus of fetal myocardium.