title: Maternal and neonatal anti-cytomegalovirus IgG level and risk of postnatal cytomegalovirus transmission in preterm infants.
abstract: Immunological mechanisms influencing the risk of mother-to-child cytomegalovirus (CMV) transmission in preterm infants have not been studied sufficiently. In this study, the correlation between maternal and neonatal serum anti-CMV IgG levels and risk of postnatal CMV transmission in preterm infants was assessed. Anti-CMV IgG levels of 79 CMV seropositive mothers and their 94 infants were determined in peripheral blood samples collected within 3 days after delivery. Postnatal CMV infection was detected in 39/94 (41%) infants by PCR on urine at term-equivalent age (gestational age 40 weeks) after congenital infection was excluded. Maternal or infant anti-CMV IgG levels were not significantly different between infants with and without postnatal CMV infection. The anti-CMV IgG infant-mother ratio showed a significant positive correlation with gestational age (range 25-32 weeks, R(2)  = 0.218, P < 0.001), reaching 1.0 at 32 weeks of gestation. Anti-CMV IgG infant-mother ratio was significantly lower in infants with postnatal CMV infection (P = 0.015). In conclusion, the risk of postnatal CMV transmission is related to low gestational age and low anti-CMV IgG infant-mother ratio.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, University Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands. j.nijman@umcutrecht.nl
authors.forename: Joppe
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nijman
authors.forename: Anton M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: van Loon
authors.forename: Tannette G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Krediet
authors.forename: Malgorzata A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Verboon-Maciolek
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000635:transmission*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014556:Urine / Q000821:virology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G