Publication: A case of CMV infection diagnosed from placenta: Refreshing the classic owl’s eye
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Date
2012
Authors
Nur Syahrina Rahim
Noriah O
Arifah MA
Hayati AR
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Publisher
College of Pathologists, Academy of Medicine Malaysia
Abstract
Introduction: CMV (Cytomegalovirus) infection of the placenta may demonstrate the diagnostic
viral inclusions and/or placental vilitis. Today, by immunohistochemistry, the CMV infected cells
are easily identifi ed without having to scrutinise every villous to look for the inclusions. We might
have even forgotten the beatiful nature of the owl’s eye inclusions. We would like to share an
ordinary case of congenital CMV infection with these characteristic inclusions. Case: A 25 year
old lady, in her second pregnancy presented with an intrauterine fetal death at 27 weeks gestation.
There was no history of trauma, abdominal pain or pervaginal bleeding. Her fi rst son was born a
year ago and is currently alive and well. The fetal scan shows IUGR (intrauterine growth restriction)
with parameters of about 20 weeks gestation. With Prostin induction, she delivered a macerated
stillborn. On histology, the placenta shows hydropic villi with scattered large cytomegalic cells
with eosinophilic inclusions within the stroma. Some of them display the characteristic owl’s eye
inclusions. On immunohistochemical staining, these inclusions are reactive to CMV antibody.
Conclusion: CMV infection is one of the commonly occuring intrauterine infections. Recognizing
the histopathological features may aid in identifying the cause of intrauterine death as many of
these women are asymptomatic.
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Citation
Rahim, Nur & O, Noriah & Arifah, Meisa & Rahman, Hayati. (2012). A Case of CMV Infection Diagnosed from Placenta: Refreshing the Classic Owl’s Eye.