title: Cytomegalovirus infection in pregnancy: preliminary findings from a prospective study.
abstract: 8278 (56%) of 14 789 pregnant women who were screened for cytomegalovirus (CMV) antibodies at their first antenatal visit were seropositive. 42 (3 per 1000) infants screened were congenitally infected. 3 (7%) have serious handicaps, 14 (33%) have minor or transient problems, and 25 (60%) have so far had no problems. In 26 of the 42 mothers with infected infants CMV antibodies were present in the first antenatal blood sample. 28 (67%) of the infected infants were born to mothers who had experienced a primary infection in pregnancy and 7 (17%) to mothers who had experienced recurrent infection. In the remaining 7 (17%) it was not possible to determine the type of maternal infection. One handicapped infant was born after a probable recurrent CMV infection during pregnancy. These preliminary findings suggest that routine screening of pregnant women to detect evidence of primary CMV infection is not helpful.
mesh_terms: D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000276:immunology; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008131:London; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral