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Published on: July 6, 2013
Early neurodevelopmental outcomes in children with asymptomatic congenital CMV infection
Maria Novelli1, Fabio Natale2, Anna Di Norcia3
1Department of Human Neuroscience, Polyclinic Umberto I Hospital, Sapienza University, Via Dei Sabelli 108, 00185, Rome, Italy. maria.novelli@uniroma1.it.
Insights
Most infants with asymptomatic congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) infection show normal early neurodevelopment. However, some may have minor neurological issues, warranting continued monitoring for potential developmental sequelae.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Neurology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) infection is often asymptomatic, affecting 85-90% of cases.
- Limited and conflicting data exist on neurodevelopmental outcomes in children with asymptomatic cCMV (acCMV).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of asymptomatic cCMV infection on neurological outcomes.
- To assess cognitive, language, and motor development at 6 months of age in infants with acCMV.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 56 infants with acCMV was followed for 6 months.
- Neurological examinations and Bayley-III Scales were utilized for outcome assessment.
Main Results:
- Early neurological outcomes were generally normal, with a few infants exhibiting minor tone abnormalities.
- Bayley-III scores were predominantly within the normal range, though 14% scored below -1SD on the Motor Scale.
- No significant differences in neurodevelopmental outcomes were observed based on the trimester of cCMV infection.
Conclusions:
- Minor neurological abnormalities can occur in infants with asymptomatic cCMV.
- Ongoing monitoring of this population is recommended to detect early and late neurodevelopmental sequelae.
Background:
Approximately 85-90% of congenital cytomegalovirus infections (cCMV) are asymptomatic. Few studies have investigated early and long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes in children with asymptomatic cCMV (acCMV), and the data is contradictory. In the present study, we did investigate the effect of cCMV asymptomatic infection on neurological outcomes and in cognitive, language and motor development at 6 months of age.
Methods:
Fifty-six children with cCMV asymptomatic infection were followed for 6 months, as part of a long-term surveillance program, examining their neurological and developmental outcomes. Neurological examination and Bayley-III Scales were performed.
Results:
Clinical evaluation revealed that early neurological outcomes were essentially normal, with minor neurological deficits (i.e., tone abnormalities) in a subgroup of patients. Bayley-III scores were substantially in the normal range, with 14% showing a score less than 85 (-1SD) in the Motor Scale. Children's neurological and neurodevelopmental outcomes at 6 months of age did not differ according to the trimester of infection.
Conclusions:
Some infants with cCMV asymptomatic infection may present minor neurological abnormalities in early stages of life. It seems useful to monitor this population for early and late neurodevelopmental sequelae.
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