[Association of non-immunologically-induced hydrops fetalis with Parvovirus B19 infection].

Five weeks after the onset of clinical symptoms of erythema infectiosum, a 24 year old pregnant woman, gravida I, para 0, suffered a hydrops fetalis which resulted in fetal loss. The maternal infection with the human parvovirus B19 could be confirmed serologically with ELISA and immunoblot by detecting specific IgM antibodies against B19. In an amniotic sample of the fetus Parvovirus B19 DNA could be detected by hybridisation. Fetal loss was obviously due to a parvovirus B19 infection of the mother and the fetus.