Abstract
Background: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the most common congenital infection in developed countries with reported incidences varying from 0.15% to 2.0%. Congenital CMV infection may be a cause of a congenital syndrome or run without symptoms. Approximately 90% of congenitally infected infants are asymptomatic at birth but may still present handicaps at a later age.
Aims: The objectives of the present study were to evaluate the importance of this agent as cause of morbidity and long term sequelae, and to assess the utility of the different methods of congenital CMV infection screening
Methods: Between May and August 2002, 757 consecutive newborns were screened for CMV infection by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) in cord blood and through the isolation of CMV by shell-vial from urine on the first two days of life. Epidemiological characteristics of the mothers and newborn were analysed from medical records. Follow-up was done at 3, 6, 9, 12, 15 and 18 months with neurologic, audiologic, ophthalmologic and development assessments.
Results: Asymptomatic congenital CMV infection was diagnosed in 5 out of 757 (0.7%) by means of a virus culture in urine. PCR in cord blood was negative in all cases. In three newborns, within the first 3 weeks of life, the clinical findings included: pneumonia (1); bone marrow failure (1); hepatitis (2); basal ganglia vasculitis (2). At 18 months, follow-up of two infants showed short stature (1), minor abnormal neurodevelopment (1) and partial hearing loss (1).
Conclusion: The incidence of congenital CMV infection was similar to that reported in other studies on highly immune populations. Urinary CMV culture is a reliable and convenient method, and may be a screening tool for the detection of congenital CMV infection. Infants with asymptomatic congenital CMV infection may have severe diseases that are not clinically evident at birth. In our series of studies, sequelae were found in 3 out of 5 (60%) children. Funded by Science and Technology Foundation
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Brito, M., Garrote, J., machado, M. et al. 168 Asymptomatic Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection. Pediatr Res 56, 492 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-200409000-00191
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-200409000-00191