Herpes Gestationis With Identical Lesions in the Newborn

Abstract

• Cutaneous lesions of herpes gestationis developed in a newborn on the fifth day of life and disappeared spontaneously after three weeks. The immunologic phenomena were analogous in the mother and child. No circulating or in vivo-bound immunoglobulins were demonstrated, but components 3 and 4 of complement were present at the basement membrane zone. We discuss a possible passive transfer of the disease to the newborn, and a supposedly pathogenetic role of immunologic phenomena in herpes gestationis. (Arch Dermatol 112:1129-1131, 1976)