All issues > Volume 34(10); 1991

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1991;34(10):1365-1372. Published online October 31, 1991.

Congenital cytomegalovirus infection: incidence and clinical outcome.

Young Mo Sohn¹, Kook In Park¹, Chul Lee¹, Dong Kwan Han¹, Won Young Lee²

¹Department of Pediatrics, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
²Department of Microbiology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

Received: May 16, 1991;  Accepted: July 23, 1991.

Abstract

In order to assess the rate of congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in newborns, CMV IgG antibody was studies at about 37.5 weeks gestation in 309 mothers and a positive rate of 96.4% was obtained. Virus culture for CMV from urine of 514 neonates less than 1 week after birth resulted in CMV growth in 6 neonates showing a 1.2% congenital infection rate. In 220 cases where cord blood was obtainable, CMV IgM antibody was positive in 4 cases, but we couldn’t isolate CMV from urine of those 4 newborn infants until 6 weeks culture. As of present, there is no treatment for congenital CMV infection and therfore, prevention of neurologic sequelae is the most important factor. The rate of CMV infection during pregnancy and risk of primary infection in women should be assessed together with rate of congenital infections. The natural history, mode of transnission, epidemiology of congenital CMV infection in this country will help identifying the pathogenesis of the disease.

Keywords :Cyomegalovirus;Congenital Infection;Rapid diagnosis