Key result
PCR fails to detect enterovirus RNA in placentas from infants with severe perinatal complications.
Why the study?
Is enterovirus present in placentas from neonates with low Apgar scores, respiratory insufficiency, and seizures?
Observational (n=26)
Is enterovirus present in placentas from neonates with low Apgar scores, respiratory insufficiency, and seizures?
Contrary to previous reports using in-situ PCR, enterovirus RNA was not detected in placentas from neonates with low Apgar scores, respiratory insufficiency, and seizures using PCR from extracted RNA.
Negative placental enterovirus PCR does not implicate infection; challenges prior in-situ reports and leaves causal role open.
Enteroviruses have been implicated as a cause of low Apgar scores in conjunction with perinatal seizures and respiratory insufficiency. Using in-situ reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (in-situ PCR), Nuovo et al detected enterovirus in up to 86% of placentas from perinates exhibiting these symptoms. In-situ PCR has been the only method employed to assess for the presence ofenterovirus in this specific patient population. The purpose of our study was to use PCR amplification of enterovirus from extracted RNA to confirm these observations. RNA was extracted from 26 placentas of infants with low Apgar scores, perinatal seizures, and respiratory insufficiency. Each extraction was positive for beta-actin RNA, which confirmed that the integrity of RNA was maintained in the sample. Enterovirus RNA was not detected in any of the cases. Our results indicate that enterovirus is not present in placentas from neonates with the combination of low Apgar scores, respiratory insufficiency, and seizures, as previously reported.
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Cover et al. (2008) conducted an observational in Perinatal depression (low Apgar scores, perinatal seizures, and respiratory insufficiency) (n=26). Enterovirus infection was evaluated on Presence of enterovirus RNA by PCR amplification. Enterovirus RNA was not detected by PCR amplification in any of the 26 placentas from infants with low Apgar scores, perinatal seizures, and respiratory insufficiency (0%).
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