Placental transfer of ganciclovir in a woman with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and cytomegalovirus disease.

A pregnant woman with AIDS developed cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis and pneumonitis, requiring intravenous ganciclovir. At 34 weeks gestation the woman delivered a 1.4-kg girl. Examination of the placenta revealed transplacental passage of CMV. Low concentrations of ganciclovir were detected in the neonate's plasma. The neonate had mild anemia but no other signs of congenital CMV infection.