Pathology of congenital rubella in Jamaica.

Abstract

The clinical, virological, and haematological features of the congenital rubella syndrome have been well documented in the recent American paediatric literature, as a result of the epidemic which occurred in 1964. However, apart from isolated case reports (Lambert, Stern, and Wellsteed, 1965; Stern and Williams, 1966;Menser, Dorman, Reye, and Reid, 1966) pathological data have been limited to descriptions of certain organs or tissues as part of larger series of clinical studies (Plotkin,

Maternal rubella and its effect on the foetus.

“…Necrosis of paraventricular white matter with perivascular cuffing and minimal inflammatory changes have been described in the brain of fatal cases by Plotkin et al (1965b). In the liver, changes indistinguishable from those seen in neonatal giant cell hepatitis have been described (Plotkin et al, 1965b;Lambert, Stern, and Wellsteed, 1965 (Thorburn and Miller, 1967 . Two methods can be employed.…”

“…Thickened pulmonary alveolar septa and splenic fibrosis have been described, which point to an inflammatory process of long standing. Cases have been reported from Jamaica in which there was histological evidence of nephrocalcinosis, congenital glomerulosclerosis, cerebral calcification, and atrophy of the thymus (Thorburn and Miller, 1967). Abnormalities in which fully developed organs are damaged are more akin to the changes seen in cytomegalovirus infection and are somewhat different from the malformations that occur during organogenesis in congenital rubella.…”

A translocation t (Bq+: Cq-) in a West Indian family and a report of a second family showing a possible long arm group B translocation.

“…Mentally retarded, sexual infantilism, micrognathia, dry coarse skin, ectopic pupils macroglossia, simian creases lesions in the brain, kidneys, and pancreas in several cases of congenital rubella (Thorburn and Miller, 1967), but the pneumonitis in this case does not resemble that of rubella which has a characteristic alveolar exudate as well as an interstitial infiltrate. Without any serological or virological information, one can only speculate on the origin of this presumed infection.…”

Congenital rubella syndrome with death from interstitial pneumonia

“…All of the patients developed interstitial pneumonia by the age of 6 months and 69% (9/13) developed it by age 3 months; 69% (9/13) died and 44% (4/9) died within 1 month after onset of interstitial pneumonia. In another study on CRS pathology, six of seven patients for whom anatomical data were available had features of interstitial pneumonia . We think that CRS complicated by interstitial pneumonia has a very poor prognosis.…”

“…In another study on CRS pathology, six of seven patients for whom anatomical data were available had features of interstitial pneumonia. 8 We think that CRS complicated by interstitial pneumonia has a very poor prognosis.…”