Korean J Infect Dis.  1999 Oct;31(5):439-444.

A Case of Congenital Rubella Syndrome

• Yu JH
• Kwak YH
• Jung HS
• Na SY
• Lee HJ
• Song KJ

Abstract

Congenital rubella syndrome is a transplacental fetal infection with rubella virus and shows a wide spectrum of clinical expression from severe malformation to asymptomatic in the neonatal period. For the confirmation of congenital rubella, one of the following laboratory criteria should be present: isolation of rubella virus, demonstration of rubella-specific IgM antibody, or a rubella IgG antibody that persists and fails to drop at a rate of twofold dilution per month. Recently a reverse transcription-nested polymerase chain reaction (RT-nPCR) method for the prenatal diagnosis of rubella virus infection has been used. We experienced a case of congenital rubella in a 15- month old male who had suffered from respiratory difficulty. He had low birth weight. Thrombocytopenia was noticed shortly after his birth. He was transferred to our hospital because persistent respiratory difficulty had been developing since the age of one month. His growth and development were delayed. Physical examination revealed micrognathia, hepatosplenomegly, lymphadenopathy, and petechiae. Laboratory examination revealed a rubella specific IgM antibody. Chest X-ray suggested a chronic lung change. Rubella virus RNA was detected in the serum by RT-nPCR. This is the first case of congenital rubella, which was confirmed by the detection of rubella virus RNA, in Korea.

Keyword

Congenital rubella; Reverse transcription-nested polymerase chain reaction

MeSH Terms

Growth and Development
Humans
Immunoglobulin G
Immunoglobulin M
Infant, Low Birth Weight
Infant, Newborn
Korea
Lung
Lymphatic Diseases
Male
Parturition
Physical Examination
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Prenatal Diagnosis
Purpura
RNA
Rubella
Rubella Syndrome, Congenital*
Rubella virus
Thorax
Thrombocytopenia
Immunoglobulin G
Immunoglobulin M
RNA