Prenatal infections and congenital abnormalities: probable relationship

Possible relation of prenatal infections with various congenital malformations was examined in 194 cases including newborns, fetuses, and stillbirths. 92 children had various isolated congenital malformations; 38 – multiple malformations; and 64 – autosomal trisomy. Clinical data, case history and gross anatomy protocols were analyzed for all patients. Subspecialty consultation, radiological and ultrasound examinations have been applied together with routine clinical studies to all newborns. PCR-analysis was used for diagnostics of rubella virus, herpes simplex virus type 1, cytomegalovirus, Toxoplasma gondii and Chlamydia trachomatis in blood and urine samples; and in autopsy formalin-fixed-paraffin-embedded tissue samples of heart, liver, brain, spinal cord, kidneys, lungs, small intestine. Presence of infectious agents was found in 76.1 % of cases with isolated congenital malformations and in 86.1 % of multiple malformations. Rubella virus was detected in 58.6 % of children with autosomal trisomy.