An autopsy of the fetus and placenta was performed
3 days after termination of the pregnancy,
with an extensive sampling of all organs, placenta,
and umbilical cord. Samples were fixed in
10% buffered formalin and embedded in paraffin.
Fresh tissue samples were collected for microbiologic
investigations. Brain and spinal cord
were fixed in 27% buffered formalin for 3 weeks,
after which a neuropathological examination
was performed with extensive sampling of the
brain and spinal cord. Sections of all tissue
samples were stained with hematoxylin and eosin.
Immunostaining for glial fibrillary acid protein,
neurofilament, human leukocyte antigen DR
(HLA-DR), CD3 (to highlight T cells), and CD20
(to highlight B cells) was performed on representative
CNS samples.