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Updated: Jul 14, 2026

Ex vivo Culture of Human Placental Explants for the Study of Viral Transmission Across the Maternal-Fetal Interface
05:22

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Published on: December 30, 2025

[Cytomegalovirus and pregnancy: Challenges and perspectives]

Charles Egloff1,2,3, Christelle Vauloup-Fellous3,4,5,6, Olivier Picone1,2,7,8,3

  • 1Service de gynécologie-obstétrique, hôpital Louis-Mourier, AP-HP, Colombes, France.

La Revue Du Praticien
|July 13, 2026
PubMed

Cytomegalovirus (CMV), a member of the Herpesviridae family, is the leading infectious cause of congenital neurosensory impairment. This article reviews the key clinical aspects essential for its management during pregnancy and discusses upcoming challenges and future perspectives. In recent years, valacyclovir has demonstrated its efficacy in reducing the risk of maternal-fetal transmission following seroconversion during pregnancy. Based on this evidence, the health-economic evaluation of systematic CMV screening during the first trimester of pregnancy strongly supports its widespread implementation, despite its inability to address secondary infections. Since June 2025, the French National Authority for Health (HAS) has recommended routine screening for CMV infection during the first trimester of pregnancy (for pregnant women whose serostatus is negative or unknown). Emerging antivirals, such as valganciclovir and letermovir, currently under evaluation, could expand treatment options. Finally, research on a vaccine are ongoing, it holds the potential to revolutionize the long-term management of this infection.

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