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Use of In vivo Imaging to Monitor the Progression of Experimental Mouse Cytomegalovirus Infection in Neonates
05:53

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Published on: July 6, 2013

Congenital cytomegalovirus infection: association between virus burden in infancy and hearing loss

Suresh B Boppana1, Karen B Fowler, Robert F Pass

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35233, USA. sboppana@peds.uab.edu

The Journal of Pediatrics
|June 24, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Infants with higher virus levels in urine and blood during infancy face increased risk of hearing loss from congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection. Early detection and monitoring of CMV viral load are crucial for managing hearing outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Pediatrics
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is a leading cause of sensorineural hearing loss in children.
  • The relationship between viral burden in infancy and the development of hearing loss in congenital CMV infection requires further elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between the viral load of cytomegalovirus (CMV) in infancy and the incidence of hearing loss in infants diagnosed with congenital CMV infection.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort study monitored 76 infants with congenital CMV infection identified via newborn screening.
  • CMV viral load was quantified in urine specimens and peripheral blood (PB) DNA using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction.

Main Results:

  • Symptomatic congenital CMV infants exhibited higher CMV levels in urine and PB compared to asymptomatic infants.
  • Among asymptomatic infants, those who developed hearing loss had significantly higher CMV levels in urine and PB during infancy.
  • Lower CMV viral loads in urine (< 5 x 10(3) pfu/mL) and PB (< 1 x 10(4) copies/mL) were associated with a reduced risk of hearing loss.

Conclusions:

  • Increased CMV viral burden in urine and PB during early infancy is linked to hearing loss in infants with asymptomatic congenital CMV infection.
  • These findings highlight the importance of monitoring viral load in congenital CMV infection to predict hearing loss risk.
Abstract

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