Neonatal screening for congenital cytomegalovirus infection and hearing loss

Congenital cytomegalovirus infection causes 20–30% of congenital sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) cases. Early identification of CMV attributable cases and their successful treatment are often hampered by the late appearance of the damage in a high proportion of children both symptomatic and asympt...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of clinical virology 2006-02, Vol.35 (2), p.206-209
Main Authors: Barbi, Maria, Binda, Sandro, Caroppo, Simona, Primache, Valeria
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Congenital infection
Cytomegalovirus
Cytomegalovirus - genetics
Cytomegalovirus - isolation & purification
Cytomegalovirus Infections - complications
Cytomegalovirus Infections - congenital
Cytomegalovirus Infections - diagnosis
DNA, Viral - analysis
DNA, Viral - blood
Hearing Loss, Sensorineural - etiology
Hearing Loss, Sensorineural - virology
Humans
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Neonatal Screening
Screening
Sensorineural hearing loss
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Summary:Congenital cytomegalovirus infection causes 20–30% of congenital sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) cases. Early identification of CMV attributable cases and their successful treatment are often hampered by the late appearance of the damage in a high proportion of children both symptomatic and asymptomatic at birth. To discuss the feasibility of a screening program aimed at finding congenitally infected babies followed by their audiological monitoring. Opinion—review article. Frequency and severity of hearing loss due to congenital CMV suggest it maybe worthwhile setting up neonatal screening campaigns. Structures where SNHL can be diagnosed and treated exist already in many countries as part of universal neonatal audiological screening schemes. A test based on viral DNA extraction from neonatal dried blood spots on Guthrie cards and its amplification by means of a nested PCR (DBS test) seems to offer the best characteristics for use in screening. Clearly it will be necessary to calculate whether the costs of screening, diagnosis and follow-up, and the financial and emotional burden on the families of infected children, are up to the potential gain.
ISSN:1386-6532
1873-5967
DOI:10.1016/j.jcv.2005.08.010