Are important predictors of adverse outcome in children with symptomatic congenital cytomegalovirus infection overlooked in clinical settings?

Scientific paper - Original scientific paper

• Author: Ivana Đaković
• Author: Ivica Kostović
• Author: Katarina Vulin
• Author: Iva Prvčić
• Author: Goran Tešović
• Author: Goran Krakar
• Author: Tomislav Gojmerac
• Author: Jadranka Sekelj Fureš
• Author: Vlatka Mejaški Bošnjak
• Author's institution: University of Zagreb; School of Medicine; (Croatian Institiute for Brain Research)
• Author's institution: University of Zagreb; School of Medicine; (Department of Infectious Diseases)
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: BIOMEDICINE AND HEALTHCARE; Clinical Medical Sciences; Infectology

Abstract (english)

Objective: Congenital cytomegalovirus infection (cCMV) is a common, frequently unrecognized cause of childhood disability. The aim of the present study was to determine the symptoms that raise the suspicion of cCMV, define the neurodevelopmental outcomes, and assess their correlations.

Methods: This longitudinal observational study comprised 78 children with symptomatic cCMV who underwent neuropediatric follow-up for 4 to 17.9 years.

Results: Symptoms of central nervous system involvement, hearing/visual impairments, and hepatic involvement were mostly recognized. The average age of disease suspicion was 3.3 months. In terms of outcomes, 10.53% of the children developed complex minor neurological dysfunction and 23.68% developed cerebral palsy. Visual and hearing impairments occurred in 38.16% and 14.47% of patients, respectively. Intellectual disability was present in 30.26% of patients, and epilepsy in 21.05%. Microcephaly and hearing impairment was significantly associated with overall neurodevelopmental outcome. Microcephaly was also associated with poor motor outcomes, hearing impairment, and severe visual impairment. Furthermore, microcephaly and intrauterine growth restriction were significantly associated with poor cognitive outcomes.

Conclusion: Symptoms that raised the suspicion of cCMV-especially microcephaly, hearing impairment, and intrauterine growth restriction-were important parameters that were associated with outcomes; however, their recognition was often insufficient and/or late.

• Keywords (english): Adolescent; Cerebral Palsy; Child; Child, Preschool; Cytomegalovirus / pathogenicity; Cytomegalovirus Infections / complications; Cytomegalovirus Infections / congenital; Cytomegalovirus Infections / diagnosis; Female; Fetal Growth Retardation / virology; Follow-Up Studies; Hearing Loss / diagnosis; Hearing Loss / etiology; Hearing Loss / virology; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Intellectual Disability / virology; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Microcephaly / etiology; Microcephaly / virology; Prognosis; Vision Disorders / diagnosis; Vision Disorders / etiology; Vision Disorders / virology
• Language: english
• Publication type: Scientific paper - Original scientific paper
• Publication status: Published
• Peer review: Peer review
• Publication version: Published version
• Journal title: Journal of International Medical Research
• Numbering: vol. 52, no. 9, 3000605241274226
• p-ISSN: 0300-0605
• e-ISSN: 1473-2300
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/03000605241274226
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:105:171114
• Publication: 2024-09-03
• Document URL: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/03000605241274226
• Type of resource: Text
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2025-03-24 09:34:11