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. 2016 Dec;144(16):3426-3434.
doi: 10.1017/S0950268816001485. Epub 2016 Aug 18.

Varicella-zoster immunoglobulin treatment in pregnant women in Denmark from 2005 to 2015: descriptive epidemiology and follow-up

C Jespersen  1 , I G Helmuth  1 , T G Krause  1
Affiliations

Varicella-zoster immunoglobulin treatment in pregnant women in Denmark from 2005 to 2015: descriptive epidemiology and follow-up

C Jespersen et al. Epidemiol Infect. 2016 Dec.

Abstract

Primary infection with varicella-zoster virus in pregnancy poses a risk of severe infection and embryopathies. Upon exposure, seronegative women are candidates for varicella-zoster immunoglobulin (VZIG). The aim of this paper was to describe risk factors for VZIG treatment including sources of varicella exposure and to study how many women developed clinical infection and received postpartum vaccination. We identified all pregnant women who received VZIG from December 2005 to March 2015. Additional information was obtained from Danish registers and a follow-up questionnaire. A total of 104 women were included and 88 completed the questionnaire. Significantly more women had 'other country of origin' than Denmark. They were more often second para (57%) and had most commonly been exposed to varicella by their own child (58%). Five women developed clinical varicella infection, and only 26·5% were vaccinated after delivery. The study concludes that few women developed infection after VZIG and none developed pneumonia. General practitioners should be particularly aware of obtaining varicella anamnesis in parous women from non-temperate countries in order to perform selective vaccination prior to pregnancy. In case of varicella exposure during pregnancy in a seronegative woman, postpartum vaccination is crucial.

Keywords: Chickenpox; epidemiology; infectious disease epidemiology; vaccination (immunization); varicella zoster.

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Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Flowchart of the inclusion of 104 women treated with varicella-zoster immunoglobulin (VZIG) after exposure to varicella-zoster virus from December 2005 to March 2015. * Questionnaires not returned and telephone follow-up not possible due to missing contact information.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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