PEDIATRICS Vol. 39 No. 1 January 1967, pp. 36-42
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HEPATOSPLENOMEGALY AND HEART DISEASE IN THE CONGENITAL RUBELLA SYNDROME

Report of Eight Cases

Robert M. Jeresaty M.D.1 and William Russell M.B., Ch.B.1

1 The Cardio-Pulmonary Section (Medical Division) Saint Francis Hospital, Hartford, Connecticut

Hepatomegaly, observed in 8 infants with congenital heart disease and the rubella syndrome, failed to respond to digitalization and/or division of a patent ductus arteriosus in five of the eight infants. Hepatomegaly was accompanied by splenomegaly in seven infants and by purpura in two. Such manifestations may be erroneously diagnosed as evidences of heart failure. It should, therefore, be noted that the hepatomegaly of the rubella syndrome (unlike that from circulatory failure) is present at birth and non-progressive, is unresponsive to digitalis, diuretics, and curative surgery, and is usually accompanied by splenomegaly and often by purpura.

The possibility of infection of the fetus by prepartum maternal rubella and of postnatal cardiovascular damage by the rubella virus were suggested by two infants studied.

Submitted on March 21, 1966
Accepted on July 29, 1966