Maternal and congenital rubella before 1964: Frequency, clinical features, and search for isoimmune phenomena

Maternal rubella occurring during 1959 to 1964 was identified in 25 of 30,059 pregnancies, an attack rate of 4 to 8 per 10,000 pregnancies during this nonepidemic period. The expanded congenital rubella syndrome occurred in infants of these mothers, suggesting that no recent change has occurred in the syndrome or in the virulence of the virus. Increased amounts of anti-IgG antibodies were found in postpartum maternal sera. These anti-immunoglobulins are 19S and probably have no effect on the immunologic competence of the fetus and infant. Cord serum IgM levels were elevated in 3 of 9 patients tested.