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Urine and Saliva Viral Load in Children with Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection

Nazia Kabani1, Swetha Pinninti1, Suresh Boppana1

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.

Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society
|March 7, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Viral load in infant saliva and urine does not predict sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) in children with congenital cytomegalovirus infection. Higher viral loads were observed in symptomatic infants, but not in asymptomatic children with or without SNHL.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Pediatrics
  • Audiology

Background:

  • Congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is a leading infectious cause of non-genetic sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) in children.
  • Early prediction of SNHL in infants with congenital CMV is crucial for timely intervention.
  • Viral load assessment in bodily fluids is a potential, non-invasive method for predicting SNHL risk.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the correlation between viral load in infant saliva and urine and the development of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) in children with congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection.
  • To determine if viral load can serve as a predictive biomarker for SNHL in congenital CMV cases.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective cohort study involving infants diagnosed with congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection.
  • Quantification of CMV viral load in saliva and urine samples collected from infants.
  • Audiological assessments were performed to diagnose sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL).
  • Statistical analysis to compare viral loads between infants with and without SNHL, and between symptomatic and asymptomatic infants.

Main Results:

  • Viral load was significantly higher in symptomatic infants compared to asymptomatic infants.
  • No significant difference in viral load was found in urine or saliva between asymptomatic infants with SNHL and those without SNHL.
  • Congenital CMV viral load in infant saliva and urine did not demonstrate predictive value for the development of SNHL.

Conclusions:

  • Viral load in infant saliva and urine is not a reliable predictor of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) in congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection.
  • Symptomatic presentation in congenital CMV infection correlates with higher viral loads, but this does not translate to predictive capability for hearing loss in asymptomatic infants.
  • Further research may be needed to identify reliable biomarkers for predicting SNHL in congenital CMV infection.

Keywords:
congenital CMVhearing losssalivaurineviral load

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