Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42655090›Full record

ReviewMicroorganisms2026

Varicella-Zoster Virus Infection in Pregnancy: Maternal, Fetal, and Neonatal Implications in the Vaccination Era.

Isadora Rodrigues Almeida, Camila Silva Belo, Tammy Caram Sabatine, Thamy Cristina Campos, Annie Stefanelli, Liris Naomi Noguchi, Giuliana Augustinelli Sales, Gustavo Yano Callado, Angélica Lemos Debs Diniz, Roberta Granese and 2 more

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Microorganisms, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Isadora Rodrigues AlmeidaDiscipline of Woman Health, Municipal University of São Caetano do Sul (USCS), São Caetano do Sul 09521-160, SP, Brazil.ORCID 0009-0003-9001-259X
Camila Silva BeloDiscipline of Woman Health, Municipal University of São Caetano do Sul (USCS), São Caetano do Sul 09521-160, SP, Brazil.
Tammy Caram SabatineDiscipline of Woman Health, Municipal University of São Caetano do Sul (USCS), São Caetano do Sul 09521-160, SP, Brazil.ORCID 0009-0002-1257-5752
Thamy Cristina CamposDiscipline of Woman Health, Municipal University of São Caetano do Sul (USCS), São Caetano do Sul 09521-160, SP, Brazil.
Annie StefanelliDiscipline of Woman Health, Municipal University of São Caetano do Sul (USCS), São Caetano do Sul 09521-160, SP, Brazil.
Liris Naomi NoguchiDiscipline of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Santo Amaro University (UNISA), São Paulo 04829-300, SP, Brazil.
Giuliana Augustinelli SalesDiscipline of Woman Health, Municipal University of São Caetano do Sul (USCS), São Caetano do Sul 09521-160, SP, Brazil.
Gustavo Yano CalladoDepartment of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Albert Einstein Israelite College of Health Sciences (FICSAE), Albert Einstein Israelite Hospital, São Paulo 05652-900, SP, Brazil.ORCID 0000-0001-6694-6569
Angélica Lemos Debs DinizDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Federal University of Uberlândia (UFU), Uberlândia 38405-320, MG, Brazil.
Roberta GraneseDepartment of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, "G. Martino" University Hospital, 98100 Messina, Italy.ORCID 0000-0003-0318-9390
Edward Araujo JúniorDiscipline of Woman Health, Municipal University of São Caetano do Sul (USCS), São Caetano do Sul 09521-160, SP, Brazil.ORCID 0000-0002-6145-2532
Antonio BragaDepartment of Gynecology and Obstetrics, School of Medicine, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 22240-003, RJ, Brazil.ORCID 0000-0002-2942-6182

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Infection by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV) during pregnancy is uncommon but clinically relevant, since it may compromise both the mother and the fetus. Although varicella is generally benign and self-limited in childhood, the physiological and immunological changes in pregnancy predispose individuals to more severe forms of the disease, with pneumonia representing the main maternal complication and a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Vertical transmission may result in congenital varicella syndrome, the most severe fetal consequence, whose risk is greatest between the 13th and 20th weeks of gestation, or in severe neonatal varicella when maternal infection occurs in the peripartum period. This article presents a narrative review of the literature. To enhance methodological transparency and reproducibility, key principles of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) were applied to the literature search and study selection process. Searches were conducted in the PubMed/MEDLINE and SciELO databases, and 32 studies were included in the narrative synthesis. The review addresses the virology, pathophysiology, and epidemiology of VZV infection, including differences between temperate and tropical regions, as well as its clinical manifestations and maternal, fetal, and neonatal complications. Diagnosis is predominantly clinical, with the polymerase chain reaction being the most sensitive and specific confirmatory method and serology being useful mainly for the assessment of maternal immunity. Management encompasses the assessment of susceptibility, post-exposure prophylaxis according to current guideline recommendations, and early antiviral treatment of established infection. Preconception and postpartum vaccination remain the main preventive strategies. Despite recent advances, important gaps persist regarding prophylactic strategies and the long-term safety of antivirals during pregnancy.

Indexed as

acyclovirchickenpoxcongenital varicella syndromeneonatal varicellapost-exposure prophylaxispregnancyvaricella–zoster virus

Identifiers

PMID42655090
PMCPMC13515154

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.