BACKGROUND: This study was designed to determine whether elevated viral load in infants and young children is associated with congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV)-related hearing loss. METHODS: Blood samples were obtained from 135 children with congenital CMV infection. CMV DNA in the peripheral blood was quantitated with a real-time polymerase chain reaction assay. Viral load measurements were analyzed in 3 different age groups (<2 months, 2-12 months, 12-36 months). RESULTS: In children with symptomatic and asymptomatic infection, CMV DNA levels were not different between children with hearing deficit and those with normal hearing in all 3 age groups. In children with asymptomatic infection, the positive predictive value of a peripheral blood viral load >3500 genomic equivalents per milliliter (ge/mL) at <2 months and 2 to 12 months of age is 8%, and at 12 to 36 months of age is 11.8%. However, the negative predictive value of a viral load <3500 ge/mL is 94.4% at <2 months of age, and 100% at 2 to 36 months of age. CONCLUSIONS: Peripheral blood viral load is not associated with hearing loss in children with congenital CMV infection. However, a viral load of <3500 ge/mL is associated with a lower risk of hearing loss in children born with asymptomatic congenital infection.
BACKGROUND: This study was designed to determine whether elevated viral load in infants and young children is associated with congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV)-related hearing loss. METHODS: Blood samples were obtained from 135 children with congenital CMV infection. CMV DNA in the peripheral blood was quantitated with a real-time polymerase chain reaction assay. Viral load measurements were analyzed in 3 different age groups (<2 months, 2-12 months, 12-36 months). RESULTS: In children with symptomatic and asymptomatic infection, CMV DNA levels were not different between children with hearing deficit and those with normal hearing in all 3 age groups. In children with asymptomatic infection, the positive predictive value of a peripheral blood viral load >3500 genomic equivalents per milliliter (ge/mL) at <2 months and 2 to 12 months of age is 8%, and at 12 to 36 months of age is 11.8%. However, the negative predictive value of a viral load <3500 ge/mL is 94.4% at <2 months of age, and 100% at 2 to 36 months of age. CONCLUSIONS: Peripheral blood viral load is not associated with hearing loss in children with congenital CMV infection. However, a viral load of <3500 ge/mL is associated with a lower risk of hearing loss in children born with asymptomatic congenital infection.
Authors: Jane R Deayton; Caroline A Prof Sabin; Margaret A Johnson; Vincent C Emery; Pauline Wilson; Paul D Griffiths Journal: Lancet Date: 2004-06-26 Impact factor: 79.321
Authors: Concetta Marsico; Immaculada Aban; Huichien Kuo; Scott H James; Pablo J Sanchez; Amina Ahmed; Ravit Arav-Boger; Marian G Michaels; Negar Ashouri; Janet A Englund; Benjamin Estrada; Richard F Jacobs; José R Romero; Sunil K Sood; Suzanne Whitworth; Penelope M Jester; Richard J Whitley; David W Kimberlin Journal: J Infect Dis Date: 2019-04-16 Impact factor: 5.226
Authors: Suresh B Boppana; Shannon A Ross; Zdenek Novak; Masako Shimamura; Robert W Tolan; April L Palmer; Amina Ahmed; Marian G Michaels; Pablo J Sánchez; David I Bernstein; William J Britt; Karen B Fowler Journal: JAMA Date: 2010-04-14 Impact factor: 56.272