Abstrakt: |
A low incidence (1 in 4,000) of neonatal CID was found in 47,320 consecutive live births at an obstetric hospital over a decade. The mortality was high, 5 of 16 neonates died in hospital and, of those discharged, 7 were left with severe cerebral and/or ophthalmic handicaps. Minor, remediable conditions were also found in 7 infants. Previous studies have indicated that CMV infection occurs in 1-2% of all pregnancies and 10% of the infected neonates have signs of CID at birth. A highly significant increase in the incidence of antenatal complications was found in mothers delivered of cytomegalovirus (CMV)-infected infants which may have compounded the effects of the viral disease on the fetus. A CMV-specific defect in the maternal and neonatal immune systems is discussed. |