Lab-confirmed prenatal exposure to Zika is linked to cardiac defects in infants

In this study, researchers performed echocardiograms in infants with laboratory confirmation of in utero exposure to Zika to investigate a potential link between prenatal Zika exposure and congenital heart defects.METHODThe researchers performed cardiac echocardiograms in infants born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from November 2015 to January 2017. All infants were infected with the Zika virus during their mothers ’ pregnancy, as confirmed by laboratory tests.IMPACTWomen infected by Zika during pregnancy were 10 times more likely than the general population to give birth to infants with major cardiac defects. The researchers recommended that infants with suspected congenital Zika infection should be evaluated for cardiac problems. Because the heart defects noted in the study did not require immediate management, cardiac evaluation through physical examination and measure of oxygen saturation should be performed before discharge from the maternity hospital. If these are abnormal, evaluation by a pediatric cardiologist should be requested.  AUTHORSDr. Karin Nielsen-Saines of UCLA; Dr. Dulce Orofino, Dr. Carla Verona de Farias, Dr. Maria de Fatima Leite, Dr. Sheila Pone, Dr. Marcos Pone and Dr. Maria Elizabeth Moreira of the Fernandes Figueira Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation; and Dr. Sonia Passos, Dr. Raquel de Oliveira, and Dr. Helena Teixeira Mendes of Evandro Chagas National Institute of Infectology at the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation.Orofino and Mendes are also associated wit...
Source: UCLA Newsroom: Health Sciences - Category: Universities & Medical Training Source Type: news