[Bone abnormalities and fetal cytomegalovirus infection].

BACKGROUND

Viruses, such as those of congenital rubella and cytomegalovirus infection, have been associated with bone lesions of rarefaction.

CASE REPORT: A full-term neonate was admitted at bith (birth weight: 1,630 mg; head circumference: 29 cm) for hypotrophy. A severe growth retardation had been diagnosed at 32 weeks of gestation. The fetal karyotype was normal. Search for maternal toxoplasmosis, syphilis and rubella was negative. The neonate had a complex heart defect; skeletal X-ray films showed metaphyseal transverse bands of rarefaction of the long bones and longitudinally streaked band of sclerosis and rarefaction at the ends of the femora. Urine culture was highly positive for CMV while CMV IgM were negative and CMV IgG highly positive in serum.

CONCLUSIONS

Neonatal bone changes usually seen in congenital rubella infection may also be observed in CMV infection.