Shmueli E, et al. - This study was designed to compare the outcome after birth and long-term follow-up of children with congenital Cytomegalovirus (cCMV) born after a singleton vs multiple pregnancies. Among infants with cCMV, earlier birth, a higher risk of symptomatic disease at birth and worse long-term neurologic outcome were noted in those born after multiple birth pregnancies vs those born after a singleton pregnancy. Meticulous prenatal and postnatal care was recommended for this crucial group of children.

Methods

• In a 1:2 ratio, infant outcome after birth of symptomatic vs asymptomatic infection was compared for infants born with cCMV after multiple (study group) and singleton (control group) pregnancies.

Results

• A total of 25 (4.9%), of 508 infants diagnosed with cCMV, were born after a multiple pregnancy.
• In terms of specific prenatal CMV investigations including amniocentesis and brain magnetic resonance imaging studies, no difference was noted between children in the study and control groups.
• However, in the study vs control group, significantly higher prematurity rates (52% vs. 4%, P < 0.001) and higher rate of symptomatic cCMV infection were documented (48% vs. 14%, P < 0.001).
• In addition, data reported that hearing impairment at birth was also more frequent in the study group (32% vs. 8%, P=0.016).
• According to the results of long-term follow-up, children in the study group vs control group had higher rates of neurologic sequelae (hearing impairment or neurodevelopmental delay) (20% vs. 4%, P=0.016).