Revista do Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo Print version ISSN 0036-4665

SUMMARY In view of the scarce references concerning the histologica l data in congenital parvovirus human B19 infection, we intend to provide a descrip tion of the pathological features observed in six autopsies.The virus was detected by DNA hybridization (ISH-DBH),PCR and electronmicroscopy (EM) in paraffin-embedded feto-placentary tissues.These cases constitute a subset from 86 Non Immunologic Hydrops Fetalis (NIHF) cases, in which a systemic complex of inflammatory/degenerative lesions of unknown etiology was visualized by optical microscopy. In one case a syp hilitic process was detected, typefying a double infection. All fetuses showed a similar path ology - hydrops, hepato-splenomegaly, lung hypoplasia and erythroblastemia, the specific histological feature being the presence of intranuclear inclusions in the erythroid progenitor s, in the erythropoietic visceral tissue and in blood marrow. Complex cardiopathy allied to abnormal lung lobulation and polisplenia were observed once; in 2 cases endocardial fibroela stosis was diagnosed. The pulmonary lesions were represented by dysmaturity allied to i nterstitial mononuclear infiltration. The hepatic consisted of cholestasis, portal fibrosis, canalicular proliferation, hemossiderosis, focal necroses and giant cell transformation. The c entral nervous system lesions were predominantly anoxic although the autolysis impaire d a correct diagnosis.