Viral load in congenital cytomegalovirus infection.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) affects 50-80% of adults in the USA by the age of 40 and is the virus most commonly transmitted to the fetus before birth. Extensive research into quantitative CMV assays, and the proven value of CMV DNA load measurement in guiding antiviral therapy in haematopoietic stem cell and solid organ transplant recipients, has paved the way for evaluating viral load (VL) in the management of congenital CMV infection. This article discusses the rapidly evolving methods of VL measurement. It is hoped that VL may be used in the future to predict outcome and assist antiviral treatment plans. Having the ability to detect CMV-infected infants at risk of developing hearing loss and/or disseminated CMV disease may allow the selection of patients who are most likely to benefit from timely initiation of antiviral therapy.