The role of Herpes Simplex Virus and Cytomegalovirus in adverse pregnancy outcomes: current data and clinical approaches

DOI

https://dx.doi.org/10.18565/aig.2026.84

Mateykovich E.A., Shchepin N.A., Erbaktanova T.A., Khasanova V.V., Larina E.B.
1) Tyumen State Medical University, Ministry of Health of Russia, Tyumen, Russia; 2) Perinatal Medical Center, Tyumen, Russia; 3) Tyumen Mother and Child Clinical Hospital, Tyumen, Russia; 4) Lapino Clinical Hospital of Mother and Child Group, Moscow Region, Russia

Herpesvirus infections are among the most common infectious diseases in humans. Among the adult population, approximately 64.2% are infected with Herpes Simplex Virus type 1 (HSV-1), 13.3% are carriers of Herpes Simplex Virus type 2 (HSV-2), while global seropositivity to Cytomegalovirus (CMV) reaches 83%. HSV-1/2 and CMV remain of high clinical significance in obstetric practice due to their role in adverse pregnancy outcomes caused by both intrauterine infection of the fetus and the pathological effects of viruses on the placenta.
The aim of this review is to summarize current understanding of the mechanisms of HSV–1/2 and CMV effects on pregnancy outcomes and to analyze current approaches to diagnosis, prevention and treatment.
Genital herpes during pregnancy is associated with the development of a number of obstetric complications, primarily preterm birth. Appropriate systemic antiviral therapy can reduce the risk of preterm birth associated with the infection, and earlier initiation of suppressive therapy in pregnant women at risk of preterm birth may help to reduce the incidence of neonatal herpes among premature infants.
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is the most common intrauterine infection in the world and is reported in 0.67% of all live births. In recent years, significant progress has been made in understanding the pathogenesis and prevention of congenital CMV infection: the risk of severe fetal complications is associated with primary infection of the mother during the first trimester of pregnancy; high-dose valacyclovir therapy may be effective in reducing the risk of vertical transmission of the infection.
Conclusion. The current strategy for managing pregnancy in cases of herpesvirus infections should be based on early detection and timely intervention. However, there remains a need for further prospective studies aimed at clarifying the contribution of herpesvirus infections to adverse pregnancy outcomes and optimizing approaches to diagnosis, prevention and treatment.

Authors’ contributions. Mateykovich E.A., Erbaktanova T.A. – data analysis, editing the article; Shchepin N.A. – developing the concept and design of the study, literature review, data analysis, writing the text; Khasanova V.V., Larina E.B. – literature review, writing the text.
Conflicts of interest. The authors declare no possible conflicts of interest.
Funding. The study was conducted without sponsorship.
For citation: Mateykovich E.A., Shchepin N.A., Erbaktanova T.A., Khasanova V.V., Larina E.B. The role of Herpes Simplex Virus and Cytomegalovirus in adverse pregnancy outcomes: current data and clinical approaches.
Akusherstvo i Ginekologiya/Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2026; (5): 12-21 (in Russian)
https://dx.doi.org/10.18565/aig.2026.84

pregnancy

Herpes Simplex Virus

Cytomegalovirus

adverse pregnancy outcomes

congenital infections

obstetric complications

placenta

Full text (in Russian)

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Received 11.03.2026

Accepted 29.04.2026

Elena A. Mateykovich, PhD, Associate Professor at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Tyumen State Medical University, Ministry of Health
of Russia, 625023, Russia, Tyumen, Odesskaya str., 54; obstetrician-gynecologist, Perinatal Medical Center, 625002, Russia, Tyumen, Daudelnaya str., 1,
lena-mat777@yandex.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2612-7339
Nikolay A. Shchepin, PhD student at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tyumen State Medical University, Ministry of Health of Russia, 625023, Russia, Tyumen, Odesskaya str., 54; obstetrician-gynecologist, Tyumen Mother and Child Clinical Hospital, 625002, Russia, Tyumen, Yuri Semovskikh str., 20, n.shchepin@mcclinics.ru,
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4089-3144
Tatyana A. Erbaktanova, PhD, Chief Physician, Tyumen Mother and Child Clinical Hospital, 625002, Russia, Tyumen, Yuri Semovskikh str., 20, 72@mcclinics.ru
Valentina V. Khasanova, PhD, Associate Professor at the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology, Tyumen State Medical University, Ministry of Health
of Russia, 625023, Russia, Tyumen, Odesskaya str., 54; Head of the Maternity Ward, Tyumen Mother and Child Clinical Hospital, 625002, Russia, Tyumen,
Yuri Semovskikh str., 20, malofeeva-vv@yandex.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3764-5086
Ekaterina B. Larina, PhD, Head of the Department of Miscarriage, Lapino Clinical Hospital, 143081, Russia, Moscow Region, Lapino, 1st Uspenskoe Shosse, 111,
tusha-ya@yandex.ru
Corresponding author: Nikolay A. Shchepin, n.shchepin@mcclinics.ru

The role of Herpes Simplex Virus and Cytomegalovirus in adverse pregnancy outcomes: current data and clinical approaches

Mateykovich E.A., Shchepin N.A., Erbaktanova T.A., Khasanova V.V., Larina E.B.

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