Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Perinatal/Neonatal Case Presentation
  • Published:

Perinatal/Neonatal Case Presentation

Severe postnatal cytomegalovirus infection with multisystem involvement in an extremely low birth weight infant

Journal of Perinatology volume 32, pages 72–74 (2012)Cite this article

Abstract

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.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Stagno S, Britt B . Cytomegalovirus. In: Remington JS, Klein JO, Wilson CB, Baker CJ (eds). Infectious Disease of the Fetus and Newborn Infant. Elsevier Saunders: Philadelphia, 2006, pp 740–781.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Stehel EK, Sanchez PJ . Cytomegalovirus infection in the fetus and neonate. Neoreviews 2005; 6: e38–e45.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Takahashi R, Tagawa M, Sanjo M, Chiba H, Ito T, Yamada M et al. Severe postnatal cytomegalovirus infection in a very premature infant. Neonatology 2007; 92 (4): 236–239.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Fischer C, Meylan P, Graz MB, Gudinchet F, Vaudaux B, Berger C et al. Severe postnatally acquired cytomegalovirus infection presenting with colitis, pneumonitis and sepsis-like syndrome in an extremely low birthweight infant. Neonatology 2010; 97 (4): 339–345.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Hamprecht K, Maschmann J, Jahn G, Poets CF, Goelz R . Cytomegalovirus transmission to preterm infants during lactation. J Clin Virol 2008; 41 (3): 198–205.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Hamprecht K, Maschmann J, Vochem M, Dietz K, Speer CP, Jahn G . Epidemiology of transmission of cytomegalovirus from mother to preterm infant by breastfeeding. Lancet 2001; 357 (9255): 513–518.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Kurath S, Halwachs-Baumann G, Müller W, Resch B . Transmission of cytomegalovirus via breast milk to the prematurely born infant: a systematic review. Clin Microbiol Infect 2010; 16 (8): 1172–1178.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Forsgren M . Cytomegalovirus in breast milk: reassessment of pasteurization and freeze-thawing. Pediatr Res 2004; 56 (4): 526–528.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Satilmis A, Gural A, Ongun H, Mendilcioglu I, Colak D, Oygur N . CMV seroconversion in pregnants and the incidence of congenital CMV infection. Turk J Pediatr 2007; 49 (1): 30–36.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Schleiss MR, McVoy MA . Overview of congenitally and perinatally acquired cytomegalovirus infections: recent advances in antiviral therapy. Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther 2004; 2 (3): 389–403.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Marshall BC, Koch WC . Antivirals for cytomegalovirus infection in neonates and infants: focus on pharmacokinetics, formulations, dosing and adverse events. Paediatr Drugs 2009; 11 (5): 309–321.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Hamele M, Flanagan R, Loomis A, Stevens T, Fairchok MP . Severe morbidity and mortality with breast milk associated cytomegalovirus infection. Pediatr Inf Dis J 2010; 29 (1): 84–86.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Snydman DR, Werner BG, Meissner HC, Cheeseman SH, Schwab J, Bednarek F et al. Use of cytomegalovirus immunoglobulin in multiply transfused premature neonates. Pediatr Inf Dis J 1995; 14: 34–40.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Cheeran MC, Lokensgard JR, Schleiss MR . Neuropathogenesis of congenital cytomegalovirus infection: disease mechanisms and prospects for intervention. Clin Microbiol Rev 2009; 22 (1): 99–126.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Vollmer B, Seibold-Weiger K, Schmitz-Salue C, Hamprecht K, Goelz R, Krageloh-Mann I et al. Postnatally acquired cytomegalovirus infection via breast milk: effects on hearing and development in preterm infants. Pediatr Inf Dis J 2004; 23 (4): 322–327.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Miron D, Brosilow S, Felszer K, Reich D, Halle D, Wachtel D et al. Incidence and clinical manifestations of breast-milk acquired cytomegalovirus infection in low birth weight infants. J Perinatol 2005; 25 (5): 299–303.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We thank Fikret Şahin, Associate Professor, from Department of Microbiology for testing CMV PCR on Guthrie card of the patient.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Ankara University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey

    E Okulu, İ M Akin, B Atasay, S Arsan & T Türmen

  2. Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Ankara University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey

    E Çiftçi

Authors
  1. E Okulu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. İ M Akin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. B Atasay
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. E Çiftçi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. S Arsan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. T Türmen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to E Okulu.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Okulu, E., Akin, İ., Atasay, B. et al. Severe postnatal cytomegalovirus infection with multisystem involvement in an extremely low birth weight infant. J Perinatol 32, 72–74 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2011.58

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2011.58

Keywords

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links