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Fetal ascites owing to congenital cytomegalovirus: response to ganciclovir

S Basu1, P K Chandra, S Basu

  • 1Department of Paediatrics, North Bengal Medical College & Hospital, Sushrutnagar, Darjeeling, India. drsriparnabasu@rediffmail.com

Annals of Tropical Paediatrics
|August 30, 2008
PubMed

A term newborn with severe congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is described. Fetal ascites was detected at 28 weeks gestation, and at birth there was tense ascites. There was intra-uterine growth retardation, microcephaly, chorioretinitis, jaundice, purpura and pneumonitis. Computed tomographic scan of the brain showed ventriculomegaly with periventricular calcifications. Serology was positive for cytomegalovirus-specific immunoglobulin M, and cytomegalovirus DNA was detected in the ascitic fluid and urine by nested polymerase chain reaction. He received 6 weeks of treatment with ganciclovir. Ascites resolved spontaneously and liver function tests became normal. Although there was a good clinical response to ganciclovir therapy without any side-effects, on follow-up the infant had global developmental delay and bilateral sensorineural deafness.

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