[Possibilities of postnatal diagnosis in congenital cytomegalovirus infection].

The authors review two cases of suspected congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections in which modern laboratory approaches were applied to establish the diagnosis postnatally. In the first case, intrauterine infection was suggested by ventriculomegaly, detected by means of a head ultrasonographic scan. The postnatal cranial ultrasonography and computed tomographic scans revealed intracerebral calcifications. CMV was detected in the blood and urine of the newborn. The postnatal serological tests proved that the mother had experienced a primary CMV infection during gestation. Abnormal neurological signs developed in the infant by the age of 9 months. In the second case, the mother had had an active CMV infection at 29 weeks of gestation involving a twin pregnancy. The CMV-specific serological tests demonstrated that this was a recurrent infection. The twins were born without signs or clinical symptoms and CMV was not detected in their urine samples. At 5 months of age, one of the twins excreted CMV in his urine, which must have been a consequence of a postnatal infection. The general screening of young women by CMV serology at the beginning of gestation is recommended. This would establish a CMV serostatus and provide an opportunity for the gynecologist to provide advice concerning the avoidance of infection, especially in cases where the patient is seronegative and therefore at risk of primary CMV infection.