Faculty Bibliography

Isolated herpes simplex virus encephalitis in pregnancy is a rare illness with an elusive diagnosis. We describe the second patient to survive this disease and the first to have no sequelae, because of prompt diagnosis and treatment with acyclovir

Accurate and rapid diagnosis of chorioamnionitis poses a major diagnostic dilemma. We previously reported that leukocyte esterase activity in amniotic fluid, as measured by dipstick assay, could be used as an aid in the diagnosis of chorioamnionitis. This study examines the effectiveness of an in vitro spectrophotometric assay of esterase activity in amniotic fluid. We define baseline levels of esterase activity in uninfected amniotic fluid and demonstrate a quantitative increase when infection is present. Fifty-seven amniotic fluid samples obtained at second- and third-trimester amniocenteses were divided into three parts, one for culture and two for a comparison of esterase activities by the dipstick and spectrophotometric methods. In this study, the spectrophotometric assay, because of its higher specificity and sensitivity in the determination of elevated esterase activity, was shown to be more reliable for predicting chorioamnionitis than either the dipstick or culture method

Congenital hereditary fructose intolerance is associated with the inability to tolerate fructose and carbohydrates, which are converted into fructose. We describe management of a pregnancy complicated by this disease in the mother and its implications for the neonate

A right adrenal gland mass was found during sonographic examination of the right upper quadrant during a workup for hyperemesis gravidarum. Magnetic resonance imaging was used to clarify the origin of the mass. The tumor was nonfunctional. Because of the possibility of a malignancy, the patient underwent a successful second-trimester exploratory laparatomy with right adrenalectomy. Pathology demonstrated a benign ganglioneuroma

Spondylothoracic dysplasia, also known as short-trunk dwarfism or Jarcho-Levin syndrome, is a fatal autosomal recessive disorder characterized by vertebral and spinal defects with a short thorax. Until recently, in utero diagnosis could only be made radiographically. Sonographic criteria for antenatal diagnosis are discussed in conjunction with a review of the literature