VARIABLE OUTCOME OF A CONGENITAL CYTOMEGALOVIRUS-INFECTION IN A QUADRUPLET AFTER PRIMARY INFECTION OF THE MOTHER DURING PREGNANCY

A congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in a quadruplet has not b een reported previously in the literature. We describe a congenital CM V infection in a quadruplet after primary CMV infection of the mother during pregnancy. One infant died antenatally, while another had chole static jaundice at birth and died of liver failure at three months of age. Of the two surviving infants, one showed no signs or symptoms of congenital CMV infection at Is months of age, whereas the other had he aring loss and delayed development. CMV cultures of urine were positiv e at six weeks of age in all three infants born alive. The diagnosis o f congenital CMV infection after primary CMV infection of the mother d uring pregnancy was made retrospectively by detection of CMV-immediate early antigen in three placentas as well as by examination of serum o btained from the mother during pregnancy.