Valganciclovir treatment in a 6-month-old infant with asymptomatic congenital cytomegalovirus infection and late hearing loss.

摘要

Ten to fifteen percent of the cytomegalovirus (CMV)-infected newborns are symptomatic at birth, 50% to 90% of them develop long-term sequelae; 85% to 90% are asymptomatic, of these 5% to 15% undergo long-term sequelae, mainly sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). Recommended guidelines suggest long-term follow-up, because SNHL occurs during the follow-up in 22% to 65% of symptomatic children and in 6% to 23% of asymptomatic children. Fewer than half of the SNHL cases caused by CMV are present at birth, most developing during the first year of life. Starting antiviral therapy with intravenous ganciclovir in neonatal period can reduce SNHL and improve the neurodevelopmental outcome of symptomatic newborns.