Recurrent ascites in an infant with perinatally acquired cytomegalovirus infection

Abstract

We describe an infant with symptomatic perinatally-acquired cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection manifested by fever, anaemia, thrombocytopenia and hepatosplenomegaly. This infant developed recurrent episodes of severe ascites during which the virus was isolated from his urine. This rare hepatic manifestation of neonatal CMV infection has, to the best of our knowledge, only been reported twice in aborted fetuses with intrauterine systemic CMV infection.

Ascites in infants with severe sepsis – treatment with peritoneal drainage

“…Ascites in neonates and infants is usually a consequence of congenital cardiac (1), urinary (2), or gastrointestinal conditions (3); it was also reported in metabolic storage disorders (4) and congenital Cytomegalovirus (CMV) (5), or Toxoplasma gondii infections (6). Cholestasis and elevation of liver enzymes have been observed in infants with nosocomial Gram-negative sepsis (7).…”