title: Cytomegalovirus infection as a possible underlying factor in neonatal surgical conditions.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The seroprevalence of cytomegalovirus (CMV) in France is about 38%. Fetal contamination during pregnancy is 40%. We report a series of gastrointestinal conditions associated with CMV in neonates.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a retrospective study on neonates operated on for gastrointestinal conditions in our institution between January 1998 and December 2002. Only children with suspected CMV infection (characteristic nuclear inclusions) on pathologic examination were reviewed. We analyzed the age of onset, the clinical and radiologic presentation, and the serologic findings in mother and child.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study included 3 boys and 2 girls. The average gestational age was 34.4 weeks (range, 28-39 weeks) and the average birth weight was 2364 g (range, 790-3580 g). Two infants had necrotizing enterocolitis, 2 had pathologic condition related to Meckel's diverticulum (volvulus and perforation, respectively), and 1 had distal ileal atresia. All surgical specimens showed characteristic CMV nuclear inclusions. Maternal serologic studies were positive for CMV in only 1 case with CMV IgM detected in serum. Two babies had a positive serological finding for CMV with detection of CMV IgM, and 2 had CMV isolated on urinary viral culture (one had both).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cytomegalovirus is a viral agent that may be involved in surgical pathology in neonates. To confirm the causal relationship between CMV and these pathologic findings, a large-scale longitudinal prospective screening of CMV in neonates with intestinal conditions should be performed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Robert Debré Hospital, AP-HP, 75019 Paris, France. arnaud.bonnard@rdb.ap-hop-paris.fr <arnaud.bonnard@rdb.ap-hop-paris.fr>
authors.forename: Arnaud
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bonnard
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Le Huidoux
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Carricaburu
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Farnoux
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Berrebi
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Aigrain
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: de Lagausie
mesh_terms: D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000150:complications*; D020345:Enterocolitis, Necrotizing / Q000601:surgery / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007077:Ileal Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D007223:Infant; D007409:Intestinal Atresia / Q000601:surgery / Q000821:virology*; D007416:Intestinal Perforation / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D045822:Intestinal Volvulus / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008467:Meckel Diverticulum / Q000601:surgery / Q000821:virology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies