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Cytomegalovirus enteritis in a premature infant
C Reyes1, S Pereira, M J Warden
1Department of Surgery, University of California, Irvine Medical Center, Orange 92868, USA.
Insights
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection can present as necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in newborns. This case highlights CMV enteritis as a potential cause of NEC, suggesting its inclusion in differential diagnoses for this condition.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal infectious diseases
- Gastroenterology
- Virology
Background:
- Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a common congenital infection, affecting up to 2.5% of newborns.
- CMV infection can lead to severe neonatal conditions, including symptomatic disease and long-term developmental issues like hearing loss.
Observation:
- A case of congenital Cytomegalovirus (CMV) enteritis in a neonate is presented.
- The infant's condition mimicked necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a serious gastrointestinal disorder.
- The infant later developed a colonic stricture, a potential complication of intestinal inflammation.
Findings:
- Neonatal CMV enteritis is rarely reported in English literature, with only four prior non-English case reports.
- CMV enteritis is increasingly recognized in immunocompromised pediatric and adult populations.
- This case suggests CMV should be considered in the differential diagnosis of neonatal NEC.
Implications:
- The findings propose adding Cytomegalovirus (CMV) to the list of causative agents for necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC).
- This emphasizes the importance of considering viral etiologies in neonatal gastrointestinal emergencies.
- Further research into neonatal CMV infection and its gastrointestinal manifestations is warranted.
Background/Purpose:
Up to 2.5% of newborn infants are cytomegalovirus (CMV) positive at birth. Five percent will be symptomatic at birth, including cytomegalic inclusion disease. Symptoms such as hearing loss and mental retardation will ultimately develop in 15%.
Methods:
The authors describe a case of CMV enteritis in a 2.2-kg newborn that presented as necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and subsequently developed a colonic stricture.
Results:
There are four reports of neonatal CMV enteritis in the nonEnglish-language literature. Cytomegalovirus enteritis has become prevalent among the immunosuppressed pediatric and adult patient population.
Conclusions:
We propose the addition of CMV to the list of pathogens responsible for NEC. A review of neonatal CMV infection is provided.