[Placental aspergillosis: myth or reality? Apropos of a case with fetal death in utero].

The authors report an original case-history of massive aspergillosis of the placenta that occurred in a 24 year old primigravida who had had no previous history or clinical changes in pregnancy. It caused fetal death in utero with retention and maceration of the fetus. Macroscopic examination showed that the left lip was cleft and that the placenta was studded with isolated confluent diffuse whitish granulations. Histologic examination made us think that these appearances were those of aspergillar granulomas occurring even in the placental villi and intravillous spaces. Laboratory findings showed that there was Aspergillus Niger in the blood of the mother. A wide search of the literature failed to find any case in humans. On the other hand aspergillosis occurs frequently in animals causing intrauterine growth retardation and prematurity with abortion. There is great economic loss as a result. Why the animal placenta should be susceptible to infection of aspergillosis and how it acquires it is discussed! Finally the association of aspergillosis of the placenta with a cleft lip found in our case, is unique and one wonders if there is any relationship.