complications

Last reviewed 03/2022

The complications of this condition are based on the fact that it tends mostly to affect cells with a rapid turnover. Thus, in healthy individuals little is seen. However, the disease may precipitate an aplastic crisis in people with sickle cell anaemia, spherocytosis, or leukaemia.

Transplacental infection occurs in about 33% of cases.

There is a risk of fetal death in about 10% of cases. Adverse fetal/neonatal outcomes associated with fetal infection include:

• risk of adverse fetal/neonatal outcomes vary with respect to gestational age at the time of infection with parvovirus:
  • if parvovirus infection occurs in the first 20 weeks of pregnancy, the risk of miscarriage rises from the 5% that a woman who is not infected with the virus has, to 15%
  • if parvovirus infection occurs in weeks 9-20, as well as the 15% risk of a miscarriage, there is also a 3% risk your baby will develop non-immune hydrops fetalis
    • hydrops fetalis is fatal in about 50% of cases
  • other possible of parvovirus infection include growth retardation, myocarditis/infarction, meconium peritonitis, placentomegaly, oedema, anaemia, rashes, thrombocytopaenia, leucopenia and respiratory insufficiency