LATE INTRAUTERINE CYTOMEGALOVIRUS-INFECTION - CLINICAL AND NEUROIMAGING FINDINGS

Fetal Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in early pregnancy usually resul ts in severe neurological handicap and sensorineural hearing loss with typical neuroradiological findings of calcification, migrational anom alies, disturbed myelination, and cerebellar hypoplasia. Infections ac quired in late pregnancy have less prominent signs, such as microcepha ly, hearing deficits, and minor neurological handicap. We report 7 chi ldren who presented with a similar clinical complex of signs: microcep haly, sensorineural hearing impairment, behavior problems with hyperac tivity, reduced apprehension for pain in 5 of the 7, ataxia in 3, and hypotonia with clumsiness in 3 others, All manifested mild to severe d evelopmental problems, Cranial CT revealed calcification in 4 of 6 pat ients. MRI in all 7 children showed patchy to confluent nonprogressive dysmyelination. Only 2 children had acute neonatal signs of congenita l CMV infection, We assume that these children acquired CMV infection in the third trimester of gestation, leading to microcephaly, hearing loss, and neurological and developmental problems with typical neurora diological signs. (C) 1996 by Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserve d.