Does normal fetal brain ultrasound predict normal neurodevelopmental outcome in congenital cytomegalovirus infection?
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Published on: July 24, 2016
Natalie Farkas1, Chen Hoffmann, Liat Ben-Sira
1The Academic College of Tel-Aviv-Yafo, Tel-Aviv, Israel.
Objective:
We evaluated the neuropsychological outcome of children with proven congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and normal consecutive fetal neurosonographic examinations.
Methods:
We retrospectively reviewed laboratory and imaging findings of children with congenital CMV infection. The study group consisted of children with a positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in amniotic fluid and virus isolation in urine in the first week of life, and normal fetal ultrasonographic (US) examination findings, including a normal multiplanar neurosonographic evaluation. Patients with abnormal magnetic resonance (MR) findings were not excluded. The study and control groups were evaluated for cognitive, language, and motor development at one follow-up examination conducted at 11-81 months of age.
Results:
Children with congenital CMV infection and normal fetal brain findings in the US examination did not differ from the control group in terms of cognitive, language, motor, emotional-behavioral, and executive functioning. There were no differences between congenitally infected children who had a normal fetal brain MR examination and children whose fetal brain MR examination raised suspicion of a possible brain insult.
Conclusions:
Normal neurosonographic examinations during pregnancy appear to predict a normal early neuropsychological outcome in fetuses with congenital CMV infection. Outcome did not correlate with suspected abnormal white matter on fetal MR imaging.
