Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is the most common intrauterine and perinatal viral infection. Postnatal CMV infection is acquired mainly from breast milk and may cause severe illness in preterm infants. We report an extremely low birth weight infant who presented with a sepsis-like syndrome and multiple organ involvement, notably hepatitis and pneumonitis, and treated with ganciclovir without adverse effect or relapse. Journal of Perinatology (2012) 32, 72-74; doi:10.1038/jp.2011 Keywords: postnatal; cytomegalovirus; infection; low birth weight infant Introduction Acquisitiıon of cytomegalovirus (CMV) may occur by either prenatal infection in utero, resulting in congenital CMV infection, or by perinatal acquisition, during either the labor and delivery process, via blood transfusion or by breast milk. There is considerable evidence showing that the shedding of the virus into breast milk is the main source of postnatal CMV infection in infants. 1,2 Most acquired CMV infections in term infants are asymptomatic or manifest as a self-limited disease. In premature neonates, postnatal CMV infection can lead potentially lifethreatening problems. Only few cases of postnatal CMV multisystem infection with severe course have been reported. 3,4 Treatment of the postnatal CMV infection of the premature neonate and therapeutic options remain controversial. We report an extremely low birth weight infant with postnatal CMV infection presented with sepsislike symptoms, hepatitis, pneumonitis, and showed recovery under antiviral treatment.
CaseA 24-year-old mother was admitted to the hospital with premature rupture of membranes and chorioamnionitis. At 28 gestation weeks, a male infant weighing 880 g was delivered by cesarean section. The baby received surfactant replacement, high-frequency oscillation ventilation for refractory respiratory failure. Enteral feeding with breast milk was initiated at day of life (DOL) 1. On DOL 35, he was still on nasal continuous positive airway pressure, and his respiratory condition deteriorated with the increase of tracheal secretions. He had also distended abdomen with hepatomegaly, diminished activity and gray pallor of the skin. Laboratory analysis showed pancytopenia, increased C-reactive protein, direct bilirubin (15.8 mg dl À1 at the highest) and liver enzymes levels (aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and g-glutamyl transpeptidase levels were 354, 148 and 236 U l À1 at the highest, respectively). Chest X-ray revealed new alveolar infiltrations. Broad-spectrum antibiotics were initiated after obtaining cultures from blood, cerebrospinal fluid, tracheal aspirate and urine. CMV immunoglobulin M and immunoglobulin G were positive. By the quantitative PCR analysis of CMV DNA copy numbers in plasma, urine and tracheal aspiration samples were 2 Â 10 6 , 1.7 Â 10 6 and 3.7 Â 10 6 copies ml À1 , respectively. Cerebrospinal fluid was negative for CMV DNA. PCR testing for CMV on specimen of blood in Guthrie card taken on DOL 8 for neonatal screening was negative. The mother was ...