Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the most frequent congenital infection agent throughout the world. While it is seen in all age groups, it can have some severe negative impacts on the fetus when experienced during intrauterine. In our study, we aimed to evaluate the patients with symptomatic cytomegalovirus infection.

METHODS

40 patients admitted at Dr. Behcet Uz Children's Hospital between December 2004 and December 2009 for a variety of reasons and diagnosed as CMV infection with the clinical and laboratory analyses. The files of the patients were assessed retrospectively. For the diagnoses CMV IGM, CMV DNA-PCR and antigenemia tests were used.

RESULTS

Among 40 patients 40% were congenital CMV and 60% were acquired CMV. The frequency of symptomatic congenital CMV infection at our hospital from 2004 to 2009 was identified as 0.1%. The most common physical findings were hepatosplenomegaly (40%) and jaundice (30%). Prognosis of congenital CMV cases was 37.5% motor mental retardation, 25% hearing impairment, 12.5% epilepsy and 12.5% growth retardation.

The incidence of intracranial calcification in congenital CMV was 53.8% In cases with acquired CMV improvements in hepatitis and pneumonia were 70% and 100% respectively.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

The frequency of CMV infection in our study shows similarity with other developing countries. Patients with primary and secondary immunodeficiencies and newborns must be carefully approached. We recommend ganciclovir treatment for the selected cases.