Chronic viral funisitis.

Four cases chronic funisitis, a rare variant of umbilical cord inflammation, are presented and compared with the acute and subacute forms. The distinctive findings are a predominantly lymphoplasmocytic infiltration, coagulative necorsis of the vascular media with secondary calcification, and the unusual association of chronic funisitis with chronic chorioamnionitis and chronic villitis. One fetus was stillborn, another was aborted, and two were live-born. Two fetuses were growth retarded and three had evidence of infection. Viral inclusions were identified in three placentas. The data strongly suggest that lymphoplasmocytic funisitis in these cases is the result of chronic intrauterine viral infection.