Objective: The aim of this study was to retrospectively investigate the presence of Parvovirüs B19-DNA in pregnant women diagnosed with fetal anomaly and hydrops fetalis and its association with fetal infection and viral load.

Method: Twelve clinical samples of eleven patients referred to our laboratory between July 2014-March 2018 were included in the study. Parvovirüs B19-IgM and IgG antibodies and were evaluated by ELISA (NovaTec, Germany) and the presence of Parvovirus-B19 DNA was quantatively investigated by Real-Time PCR (LightMix® Kit Parvovirus B19, Roche, Germany).

Results: Parvovirus-B19 DNA-positivity was identified in 2 of 12 (16.7%) samples. Parvovirus-B19 DNA was detected in both amniotic fluid and serum samples, which were simultaneously taken from 22-week pregnant women with fetal anomalies with 106 copies/ml and with 10³ copies/ml, respectively. Parvovirus-B19 was detected as IgM negative in serological analysis. When IgG was negative, serological test for IgM was recommended to be repeated 2-4 weeks later, and a miscarriage occurred in the 8th gestational week of a woman whose IgM was evaluated as being in “grey zone”. Chromosome analysis of one of the patients, whom Parvovirus- B19 DNA was detected, was considered normal and a healthy baby was born. Pregnancy was terminated in three other pregnants included in the study due to the presence of fetal anomalies. The pregnancies were terminated due to the diagnosis of hydrops fetalis in 2, and fetal distress in 2, fetal hydrothorax in 1 patient, while two patients had term deliveries.

Conclusion: Even if the results of serological analysis were negative, Parvovirus B19-DNA can be quantitatively detected up to 10 copies/ml by Real-Time-PCR. It should not be forgotten that detection of the presence and viral load of Parvovirus B19-DNA by Real-Time PCR is quite important in terms of early diagnosis of fetal Parvovirus B19 infection in pregnancies.