Ciftdemir, Nukhet AladagAcunas, Betul2024-06-122024-06-1220201307-10681308-5271https://doi.org/10.5578/ced.202010https://search.trdizin.gov.tr/yayin/detay/364580https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14551/20326Objective: Cytomegalovirus infection when diagnosed in the first three weeks of life is generally accepted to be indicative of a congenital or vertical infection, whereas when cytomegalovirus infection is diagnosed after the first three weeks of life, it is generally considered as perinatal or horizontal infection. Since diagnosis of either a congenital or perinatal cytomegalovirus infection is challenging, as well as their treatment, this study aimed to address the issues about the diagnosis and treatment of congenital/perinatal cytomegalovirus infection by presenting a series of infants followed-up in our neonatal intensive care unit. Material and Methods: Medical records of newborn infants with congenital/perinatal cytomegalovirus infection who were admitted to our level ill neonatal intensive care unit between August 2015 and May 2018 were evaluated retrospectively. Only infants who received cytomegalovirus-specific therapy were included. Results: Out of 1039 infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit during the study period, 8 (0.8%) were diagnosed and treated for congenital/perinatal cytomegalovirus infections. All of them were preterm infants. Four infants found to be CMV positive during the first 21 days of life were diagnosed as congenital cytomegalovirus infection, while a perinatal and congenital infection differentiation could not be made in the rest of the patients. Anemia (75%), thrombocytopenia (62.5%) and hearing loss (62.5%) were the most common findings in patients with congenital/perinatal infection. None of the infants had chorioretinitis. Two infants (25%) with microcephaly had intracranial calcifications. Sepsis-like findings were present in three very preterm infants (37.5%). Cytomegalovirus-IgM was positive in all 8 infants with infection; however, serum CMV-DNA was positive in seven of them. All infants with moderate to severe symptoms were treated with ganciclovir and/or valganciclovir. Viral load decreased dramatically at the end of the treatment period. Conclusion: Cytomegalovirus infection, either congenital or perinatal, is a greater risk especially for preterm infants who may warrant and benefit from newborn cytomegalovirus screening, early detection, and effective antiviral treatment.tr10.5578/ced.202010info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessCytomegalovirusCongenital InfectionPerinatal InfectionPretermNewbornPreterm InfantsTransmissionTherapyDiseaseArticle1412126N/AWOS:000534498100005364580