Cytomegalovirus infections

CMV infections are harmless for most healthy people. Congenital infections are common, 10% of which are associated with symptoms at birth. Possible sequelae of congenital infections include infant death, mental retardation, and neurosensory hearing loss. Strong evidence indicates that symptomatic infections and severe sequelae are associated with a primary infection during pregnancy but can occur with maternal CMV reinfection or reactivation during pregnancy. Recent observational data strongly indicate that maternal infections can be reduced by behavior changes during pregnancy for women who have young children or by administering CMV hyperimmune globulin to women who have a primary infection during pregnancy. Data from a randomized, controlled trial indicate that ganciclovir administered to symptomatic infants who have evidence of CNS involvement reduces the severity of hearing deficit associated with congenital infection. CMV infections in immunocompromised patients are often serious and difficult to diagnosis. Effective therapy for such patients consists of ganciclovir and CMV hyperimmune globulin administration.