title: Perinatal cytomegalovirus hepatitis in Saudi infants: a case series.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the most common congenital viral infection, occurring in 0.4%-2.3% of all live births. The clinical manifestations of CMV are multiorgan involvement. Currently, the numbers of studies of hepatic CMV infection in immunocompetent infants are insufficient and little information exists in the medical literature about the hepatic manifestations and complications of CMV.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nine infants diagnosed with hepatic CMV infection were included in the study. The diagnosis was based on the presence of IgM anti-CMV antibodies titer in serum and detection of CMV-DNA in blood. The authors identified clinical characteristics, biochemical characteristics, immunologic markers, and the outcome of hepatic CMV with or without treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Jaundice was the most common clinical feature of CMV infection in infancy (100%). Hepatic abnormalities in the form of cholestasis (defined as a serum conjugated bilirubin concentration greater than 17.1 μmol/L or greater than 20% of the total serum bilirubin) were found in all patients (100%), hepatitis (77%), hypoalbuminemia (55%), elevated alkaline phosphatase, and gamma-glutamyltransferase (77%). Other findings showed hepatosplenomegaly (44%), thrombocytopenia (22%) and low birth weight (11%) The treatment of hepatic CMV infection was indicated in 66% and was not indicated in 33%. Both of them had resolved cholestasis and hepatitis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Jaundice and cholestasis were the most common clinical features of hepatic CMV infections. Hepatic CMV infection in young infants is often a self-limited illness that does not require antiviral therapy. Most of the patients with hepatic CMV infection had a favorable outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences/National Guard Health Affairs, Western Region, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. hasosah2007@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Mohammed Y
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Hasosah
authors.forename: Suzane Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Kutbi
authors.forename: Abdulfattah W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Al-Amri
authors.forename: Ashraf F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Alsahafi
authors.forename: Ghassan A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Sukkar
authors.forename: Khaled J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Alghamdi
authors.forename: Kevan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jacobson
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D002756:Cholagogues and Choleretics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000151:congenital* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000151:congenital* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy / Q000821:virology*; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D002756:Cholagogues and Choleretics; D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid