[Effects on fetal and infant's development of intrauterine cytomegalovirus infection].

OBJECTIVE

To study the early effects of fetal development and remote sequalae of mental development of infants after intrauterine human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection.

METHODS

Enzyme-linked immunoabsorbant assay (ELISA) were used for screening HCMV antibodies in the serum of 1419 pregnant women. HCMV DNA were examined by PCR in maternal blood, amniotic fluid and/ or umbilical blood for those with serum HCMV-IgM positive and some with HCMV negative. According to the results, group A (n = 53) included women with positive serum HCMV-IgM and HCMV DNA, and also positive HCMV DNA in amniotic fluid and/or umbilical blood: group B (n = 87) were women with positive serum HCMV-IgM and HCMV DNA but negative HCMV DNA in amniotic fluid and/or umbilical blood: group C (n = 34) served as control with all negative. The above 174 cases were carefully monitored for fetal development. Baley scales of infant development (BSID) were used to test both mental development index (MDI) and psychomotor development index (PDI) at 2-30 months after birth for babies in group A and C.

RESULTS

The occurrences of fetal intrauterine death, congenital malformation, fetal growth retardation and neonatal asphyxia were significantly higher in group A than that in group B and C (P < 0.05) and the average birth weight and height were also significantly lower in group A (P < 0.05). The mental development of infants in group A were remarkably slower than that of group C (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Active HCMV intrauterine infection may cause congential infection, birth defects and mental retardation in childhood.