Disseminated herpes simplex virus infection during pregnancy. A case report.

Hepatitis due to herpes simplex virus (HSV) developed in a pregnant women at 38 weeks' gestation. She delivered a live-born infant who had serologically documented HSV 2 infection but did well with acyclovir therapy. The mother, however, died five days postpartum from fulminant hepatic failure despite antiviral treatment, and HSV was demonstrated in the liver. Twenty-three reported cases clearly establish pregnancy as a condition that can predispose to disseminated HSV infection. The majority of cases have been due to HSV 2, and primary infection in the latter part of pregnancy appears to constitute the greatest risk. The major disease manifestations appear to be hepatitis and encephalitis. Historically, maternal and fetal mortality rates have been high, but there is a trend toward improved survival in the acyclovir era.