Prediction of Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection in High-Risk Pregnant Women

Background. This prospective study aimed to determine maternal clinical, laboratory, and ultrasound findings that effectively predict the occurrence of congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection (CCI) in high-risk pregnant women. Methods. Three hundred CMV immunoglobulin (Ig) M–positive pregnant women were enrolled. The maternal clinical and laboratory findings, including serum CMV IgM and IgG; IgG avidity index (AI); antigenemia assay (C7-HRP); polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the detection of CMV-DNA in the maternal serum, urine, and uterine cervical secretion; and prenatal ultrasound findings, were evaluated. To determine predictive factors for the occurrence of CCI, logistic regression analyses were performed. Results. In 22 of the 300 women, CCI was confirmed using PCR for CMV-DNA in newborn urine. Univariate analyses demonstrated that the presence of maternal flu-like symptoms, presence of ultrasound fetal abnormalities, serum titers of CMV IgM, positive results for C7-HRP, CMV IgG AI