Congenital cytomegalovirus infection associated with fetal ascites and intrahepatic calcifications.

A fetus at 20 weeks' gestation was shown by ultrasonography to have ascites and intrahepatic calcifications. We aspirated the fetal ascites at 29 and 30 weeks' gestation to decompress the fetal lungs due to the progression of the ascites and the concomitant compression in the fetal lungs. The newborn had neither hypoplasia of the lungs nor any respiratory complication, though congenital cytomegalovirus infection was present. This is the first report of such congenital cytomegalovirus infection associated with fetal ascites and intrahepatic calcifications. Careful monitoring and early intervention is necessary for a good prognosis.