A severe illness of a congenital cytomegalovirus infection

ABSTRACT

Congenital cytomegalovirus [CMV] infection occurs in about 1 per cent of newborns and 10 per cent of them exhibit symptomatic infection. Nervous system damage influences prognosis and newborns management. We report the case of a newborn with a s6vere and progressive congenital CMV infection. He was admitted because of petechiae and thrombocytopenia. Investigations of the newborn showed a bilateral optic atrophy, severe nervous system damage with hydrocephalus, enormous periventricular pseudocysts and cerebellum hypoplasia. No brain calcifications were found. Diagnosis relied on blood CMV viral load measurement in both the newborn and his mother. The newborn received Ganciclovir. Hydrocephalus progressed and required ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement. This case illustrates that pseudocysts and progressive hydrocephalus must suggest CMV congenital infection even not associated to brain calcifications. Nervous system damage is serious in congenital CMV infection and requires a systematic screening during pregnancy