title: Prenatal diagnosis of symptomatic congenital cytomegalovirus infection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the amniotic viral load of mothers with primary cytomegalovirus infection correlate with fetal or neonatal outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-eight of 138 pregnant women with primary infection defined by immunoglobulin G seroconversion or the presence of immunoglobulin M with low immunoglobulin G avidity accepted amniocentesis. Polymerase chain reaction and quantitative polymerase chain reaction were used to detect amniotic fluid cytomegalovirus. Cytomegalovirus infection in neonates was determined by means of urinary viral isolation during the first week after birth or the histologic examination of tissue from aborted fetuses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cytomegalovirus infection was found in 16 fetuses and neonates (23%), 5 of whom had symptoms. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction showed that the presence of >/=10(3) genome equivalents predicted mother-child infection with 100% probability; >/=10(5) genome equivalents predicted the development of a symptomatic infection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fewer than expected cytomegalovirus-infected fetuses are at risk for development of cytomegaloviral disease, and this fact may be useful in counseling pregnant women with primary cytomegalovirus infection.
authors.affiliation: II Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Bologna, Italy. and the D.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Guerra
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lazzarotto
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Quarta
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lanari
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bovicelli
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nicolosi
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Landini
mesh_terms: D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000821:virology; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000151:congenital* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D014556:Urine / Q000821:virology; D019562:Viral Load