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Use of In vivo Imaging to Monitor the Progression of Experimental Mouse Cytomegalovirus Infection in Neonates
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Growth and Cognitive Outcome in Very Preterm Infants with Postnatal Cytomegalovirus Infection

Elke Griesmaier1, Marlene Hammerl1, Maria Sappler1

  • 1Department of Pediatrics II, Neonatology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.

Neonatology
|December 11, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Postnatal cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection did not negatively impact growth or cognitive development in very preterm infants. These findings are important for discussions regarding feeding practices for preterm infants.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatalogy
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Developmental Pediatrics

Background:

  • Conflicting data exist regarding the impact of postnatal cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection on growth and cognitive outcomes in very preterm infants.
  • A systematic evaluation is needed to clarify this association in a contemporary cohort.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the effect of postnatal CMV infection on growth parameters (head circumference, weight, length) from birth to 3 months corrected age.
  • To evaluate the impact of postnatal CMV infection on cognitive development at 12, 24 months, and 5 years of corrected age.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of infants born before 32 weeks gestational age (2011-2018) was screened for postnatal CMV infection.
  • Growth parameters and cognitive outcomes (using Bayley Scales, Kaufman Assessment Battery, and Wechsler scales) were compared between infants with and without CMV infection.

Main Results:

  • Out of 431 infants, 4.6% acquired postnatal CMV infection.
  • No significant differences in growth (head circumference, weight, length) were observed between the CMV-infected and non-infected groups up to 3 months corrected age.
  • Cognitive development at 12, 24 months, and 5 years also showed no significant differences between the groups, including a subgroup of infants born before 28 weeks gestational age.

Conclusions:

  • Postnatal CMV infection was not associated with adverse effects on growth or cognitive development in very preterm infants.
  • These findings have implications for the discussion surrounding the use of raw mother's milk in feeding preterm infants.
Abstract

Keywords:
Cognitive outcomePostnatal cytomegalovirus infectionPostnatal growthPreterm birth

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