Two newborn infants are presented whose mothers had rubella in the first trimester of pregnancy. Both infants were born with thrombocytopenic purpura and suggestive evidence of a hemolytic disorder. The second infant had congenital heart disease as well.
Roentgenographic changes in the metaphyseal ends of several long bones, observed in the first infant at 3 days of age, regressed completely by 2 months of age. The second infant had roentgenographic evidence of metaphyseal changes of a lesser degree, limited to the distal ends of the femora. These changes were no longer present at 6 weeks of age. Both infants were shown to be harboring an interfering agent with the characteristics of the rubella virus.
Does First-Trimester Screening Modify the Natural History of Congenital Heart Disease?
