[Significance of congenital mixed viral infection in the pathogenesis of retinopathy of prematurity].

Forty-three infants aged 1-5 months with somatic and neurological diseases, including congenital, 18 of these with retrolental fibroplasia (RF) and 25 without RF were examined. Control group consisted of 36 age-matched infants. Based on identification of viral antigens in urine precipitate cells, mixed viral infection was diagnosed in 100% patients and 16.6% healthy babies. Ophthalmotropic ECHO 11 and 19 viruses were detected in 100% patients with RF, 28% patients without RF, and 10% healthy babies, while rubella virus was identified in 83.3, 60, and 8.3%, respectively. The viruses were detected only in association with other enteroviruses: Coxsakie A, B, and entero 69-71. These viruses detected in infants with RF were as a rule present in their mothers. Maternal anamnesis was in all cases aggravated by high risk indicators of vertical transfer of toxigenic enteroviruses to the fetus. The results indicate that congenital mixed viral infection (association of ophthalmotropic ECHO and rubella viruses with toxigenic Coxsakie and entero 69-71 viruses) is involved in the pathogenesis of RF.