CYTOMEGALIC INCLUSION DISEASE OF THE NEWBORN

Abstract

Clinical and virologic studies are reported of a patient with neonatal cytomegalic inclusion disease. Jaundice, purpura and hepatosplenomegaly were noted shortly after birth and thereafter the course during a 2-year follow-up period was primarily one of improvement. At the end of this period signs suggestive of developmental difficulty were present as evidenced by impairment of speech and a head circumference below the 3rd percentile for age. Cytomegalic virus was recovered from the urine at 2 and 5 weeks and at 3, 16, 21, and 26 months of age, suggesting that viruria was a constant feature during the period of observation. Neutralizing antibody for the virus was present in the patient's serum during the period of viruria. Recovery of cytomegalic virus from the urine during the neonatal period would appear to be a useful diagnostic procedure. However, the demonstration of viruria in the older infant does not necessarily have the same diagnostic significance.