THE PATHOLOGY OF CONGENITAL RUBELLA: A REVIEW WRITTEN BY REQUEST

The pathogenesis of congenital rubella is related to the predeliction of rubella virus to infect vascular endothelium in the placenta and developing foetus and to its ability to cause mitotic inhibition and persisting infection.In the 10 years since specific laboratory tests have been available for identification of rubella virus and estimation of antibodies, it has been shown that a much wider range of anomalies is associated with congenital rubella than was previously realized.Recently, techniques for detection of rubella-specific IgM antibody have assisted in estimating the proximity of recent post-natal infection and in the detection, neonatally, of in utero infection.