Human Cytomegalovirus Infection and Embryonic Malformations: The Role of the Wnt Signaling Pathway and Management

Xiao Mei Han1, Bao Yi Zheng2, Zhi Cui Liu3

  • 1School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang 261053, Shandong, China.

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) poses a significant risk of neural damage during pregnancy. As the most prevalent intrauterine infectious agent in low- and middle-income countries, HCMV disrupts the development of neural stem cells, leading to fetal malformations and abnormal structural and physiological functions in the fetal brain. This review summarizes the current understanding of how HCMV infection dysregulates the Wnt signaling pathway to induce fetal malformations and discusses current management strategies.

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