Harold T. Fuerst

Comparative fetal mortality in maternal virus diseases. A prospective study on rubella, measles, mumps, chicken pox and hepatitis.

Comparative data on fetal and neonatal deaths following maternal mumps, rubella, hepatitis, chicken pox and measles were obtained in a prospective study in New York City from 1957 to 1964, inclusive. The evidence pointed to an increase in early fetal death rate after rubella and mumps and an increase in perinatal mortality after rubella and hepatitis. A significant increase in these rates was not demonstrable for chicken pox and measles in the selected population studied and under the conditions of the present study. The lethal effects of maternal virus diseases were demonstrable in cases of mumps and rubella occurring in the early weeks of gestation and in cases of hepatitis occurring in the late weeks of pregnancy. Fetal death was attributable to severity of maternal disease in hepatitis and to early infection of the fetus in rubella. Other factors related to gonadal infection and to placental and hormonal changes early in pregnancy may be influential in the lethal effect of mumps. Maternal and fetal death occurred in single cases of chicken-pox pneumonia and hepatitis.

The epidemiology of systemic lupus erythematosus: Preliminary results in New York City

Abstract 1. 1. The present report describes the preliminary results of a long-term epidemiological investigation on the extent and trend of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in the general population and on the abnormalities in family members of affected individuals. 2. 2. According to the data obtained in a defined area of New York City from 1951 to 1959, inclusive, there was no evidence of an increase in the incidence of the disease in recent years. However, there was evidence of an increase in prevalence which was attributable to better recognition of the disease and improved medical care. 3. 3. Racial differences were observed in the occurrence of systemic lupus erythematosus which are of epidemiological significance. Morbidity and mortality rates were highest in non-white females from 15 to 54 years of age. 4. 4. Certain serological and physical abnormalities related to systemic lupus erythematosus appeared to be more frequent in family members of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus than in matched relatives of patients with non-collagen diseases. The relation of these differences to genetic and environmental factors is under investigation.

Fetal mortality in maternal rubella

Abstract An increase in early fetal deaths and perinatal mortality was observed in a prospective study of 763 cases of maternal rubella in New York City from 1957 to 1964, inclusive. The increase appeared to be limited to cases with onset in the first trimester. Spontaneous fetal deaths accounted for 18.3 per cent of the total fetal loss following rubella. An additional 81.7 per cent were due to artificial termination of labor for therapeutic reasons. The combined fetal loss from spontaneous deaths and induced abortions was 73.6 per cent of cases reported in the first three months of gestation. There was no evidence of an increase in virulence of infection in the extensive epidemic of rubella in 1964 as measured by fetal mortality following maternal disease in recent years.