Birth characteristics and growth pattern in children with congenital cytomegalovirus infection.

Birth characteristics and growth pattern in 76 children with congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection were compared to Swedish reference data. Infection classification was based on maternal sera during pregnancy. In 31 children the infection was primary and 31 children had reactivated (recurrent or secondary) congenital CMV infection. Infection type could not be determined in 14 children. Transient neonatal symptoms were apparent in 22 children and eight children had classical neurological CMV sequelae. Heterogeneous neurological disorders were found in 13 children. No significant differences in height, weight, and growth were found. The median follow-up time was 10 years. From 4 years old children with congenital CMV infection were taller than the reference standard. At 1 and 2 years, those children with primary congenital CMV infection were borderline shorter than reference standard, and from 4 years children with reactivated CMV infection were taller than the reference standard. In conclusion, no evidence was found verifying that congenital CMV infection causes short stature.