Cranial ultrasound scanning and prediction of outcome in newborns with congenital cytomegalovirus infection

OBJECTIVE: To report the accuracy of ultrasound scanning (US) in predicting neurodevelopmental and sensorineural outcome in patients with congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection. STUDY DESIGN: Fifty-seven neonates with congenital CMV infection underwent brain US and were observed prospectively for motor skills, developmental quotient, and hearing function. RESULTS: Abnormal results on US were found in 12 of 57 neonates. US lesions were more frequent in newborns with clinical and laboratory signs of congenital CMV infection at birth (10/18) than in newborns who had no symptoms at birth (2/39; P < .001). At least 1 sequela developed in all neonates with symptoms who had abnormal US results, whereas none of the neonates with symptoms who had normal US results had long-term sequelae (P < .001). In the population without symptoms, sensorineural hearing loss developed in 3 of 37 (8.1%) neonates with normal US results, whereas severe sequelae developed in 1 of 2 neonates with abnormal US results. CONCLUSIONS: A good correlation was found between cerebral US abnormalities and the prediction of outcome in newborns who were congenitally infected with CMV and had symptoms at birth. US could be performed as the first neuroimaging study in these newborns. Data are insufficient to permit any suggestions for the population without symptoms.