Chronic respiratory failure after acquired cytomegalovirus infection in a very low birthweight infant.

The case of a female infant who developed chronic respiratory failure after an acquired cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is presented here. She was a very low birthweight (VLBW) infant and was free from oxygen supplement until 2 months after birth. Interstitial pneumonia occurred at 2 months of age, and her respiratory condition gradually deteriorated. A chest roentgenogram at 4 months revealed hyperinflation and reticular shadow, similar to that of severe chronic lung disease (CLD) in preterm infants. She was mechanically ventilated because of progressive respiratory deterioration, and oxygen dependency continued for 5 months after extubation. There are several previous reports of CMV pneumonia in term neonates or infants. However, there appears to be no published report on the pulmonary sequelae of CMV pneumonia in VLBW infants. The present case seems to indicate that acquired CMV pneumonia in VLBW infants causes chronic respiratory failure even when mechanical ventilation is not administered, and this respiratory failure is very similar to CLD in clinical symptoms and chest roentgenogram.