Follow-up of pregnant women with active cytomegalovirus infection

ABSTRACT

Pregnant women [60] with and without serological evidence of active cytomegalovirus [CMV] infection were followed until delivery to detect the incidence and types of overt congenital CMV infection in neonates in Mosul, Iraq. Infection was diagnosed by the detection of CMV-IgM, using ELISA. CMV-IgM was detected in cord blood samples of six [10%] overtly sick infants [with different congenital malformations] born to mothers with active CMV infection. Central nervous system abnormalities were detected in all six cases [two with microcephaly and four with hydrocephaly]. Congenital CMV infection should be suspected in infants born with congenital malformations, especially those of the central nervous system. The detection of a significant number of hydrocephalus cases in our study is notable