ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: congenital infections are associated with a wide variety of clinical symptoms, including small for gestational age (SGA). AIMS: to determine the co-occurrence of SGA and congenital TORCH infections, as diagnosed by TORCH serologic tests and/or cytomegalovirus (CMV) urine culture. STUDY DESIGN: we performed a retrospective study of all neonates admitted to our neonatal intensive care unit from January 2004 to February 2010 in whom SGA was diagnosed and TORCH serologic tests and/or CMV urine cultures were performed. RESULTS: TORCH serologic tests (in neonatal or maternal serum) and/or a CMV urine culture were performed in 112 neonates with SGA. None of the neonates tested positive for Toxoplasma gondii, Rubella, and Herpes simplex virus. Positive CMV urine culture was detected in 2% (2/112) of neonates, but their CMV IgM titers were negative. CONCLUSIONS: the co-occurrence of TORCH congenital infection in infants with SGA is rare. Routine TORCH screening in neonates with isolated SGA does not seem warranted and should be limited to CMV urine cultures.
Subject(s)
Cytomegalovirus Infections/diagnosis , Cytomegalovirus/growth & development , Diagnostic Tests, Routine/methods , Infant, Small for Gestational Age , Urinalysis/methods , Cells, Cultured , Cytomegalovirus Infections/blood , Cytomegalovirus Infections/urine , Cytomegalovirus Infections/virology , Herpes Simplex/blood , Herpes Simplex/congenital , Herpes Simplex/diagnosis , Humans , Infant, Newborn , Infant, Newborn, Diseases/blood , Infant, Newborn, Diseases/diagnosis , Infant, Newborn, Diseases/urine , Infant, Small for Gestational Age/blood , Infant, Small for Gestational Age/urine , Medical Futility , Retrospective Studies , Rubella/blood , Rubella/congenital , Rubella/diagnosis , Serologic Tests/methods , Toxoplasma/isolation & purification , Toxoplasmosis, Congenital/blood , Toxoplasmosis, Congenital/congenital , Toxoplasmosis, Congenital/diagnosis , Virology/methodsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Congenital infections are associated with a wide variety of clinical symptoms, including subependymal cysts (SEC). OBJECTIVE: To determine the co-occurrence of SEC and congenital infections, as diagnosed by TORCH serologic tests and/or cytomegalovirus (CMV) urine culture. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of all neonates admitted to our neonatal intensive care unit from 1998 to 2009 in whom SEC were detected on cranial ultrasound and TORCH serologic tests and/or CMV urine cultures were performed. RESULTS: Fifty-nine neonates fulfilled the inclusion criteria. TORCH serologic tests were performed in 69% (41/59) of cases. Urine CMV culture was performed in 68% (40/59) of cases. None of the neonates tested positive for IgM Toxoplasma gondii, Rubella and Herpes simplex virus. Positive CMV IgM titers and/or a positive urine CMV culture were detected in 2% (1/59) of neonates. CONCLUSION: The co-occurrence of TORCH congenital infections in infants with SEC is rare. Routine TORCH screening in neonates with SEC does not seem warranted.
