Diagnostic Utility of Preserved Dried Umbilical Cord Polymerase Chain Reaction in Intrauterine Herpes Simplex Virus Infection: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Introduction: Intrauterine herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection is uncommon and challenging to diagnose, requiring detection of HSV in skin lesions within 48 h post-birth.

Case presentation: A preterm female infant presented with the typical triad of blisters, microcephaly, and chorioretinitis, but the initial diagnostic approach was elusive due to negative results for TORCH pathogens from vesicles/serum. Referred at 7 months for developmental delay and epilepsy, her brain imaging showed calcification and cortical dysplasia. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of her preserved dried umbilical cord detected HSV-2 DNA, diagnosing intrauterine HSV infection. HSV-2 was later found in relapsed blisters at 8 months but not in cerebrospinal fluid or brain tissue. A literature review identified 104 congenital/intrauterine HSV cases; 28.8% presented the typical triad, and 50% were diagnosed using specimens collected 48 h post-birth.

Conclusion: This case marks the first retrospective diagnosis of intrauterine HSV infection via PCR on preserved umbilical cord, underscoring its diagnostic value.