title: Congenital lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus: when to consider the diagnosis.
abstract: Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus is a rodent-borne arenavirus that can cause congenital infection affecting the developing central nervous system. When the infection occurs during pregnancy, the virus targets the fetal brain and retina, potentially causing ventriculomegaly, hydrocephalus, chorioretinitis, and neurodevelopmental abnormalities. It has been previously suggested that lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus be added to the list of congenital infections currently included in the TORCH acronym (toxoplasmosis, rubella, cytomegalovirus, herpes, and syphilis). We present 2 neonates with antenatally known ventriculomegaly that were diagnosed with congenital lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus infection after birth. In addition to ventriculomegaly, one had nonimmune hydrops fetalis and the other had intracranial hemorrhage. In view of the seroprevalence of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (4.7%-10%), our findings suggest that screening for congenital lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus infection should be considered in fetuses and newborns with ventriculomegaly as well as other abnormal neuroimaging findings such as intracranial hemorrhage.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Neurology, Washington University Medical School, St Louis, MO, USA.
authors.forename: Jacqueline L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.affiliation: Division of Newborn Medicine, Edward Mallinckrodt Department of Pediatrics, Washington University Medical School, St Louis, MO, USA Levy_P@kids.wustl.edu.
authors.forename: Philip Thaler
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Levy
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Neurology, Washington University Medical School, St Louis, MO, USA.
authors.forename: Kathryn B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Leonard
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Neurology, Washington University Medical School, St Louis, MO, USA.
authors.forename: Christopher D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Smyser
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Washington University Medical School, St Louis, MO, USA.
authors.forename: Lawrence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tychsen
authors.affiliation: Division of Newborn Medicine, Edward Mallinckrodt Department of Pediatrics, Washington University Medical School, St Louis, MO, USA.
authors.forename: F Sessions
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Cole
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008216:Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000821:virology*; D008217:Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: TORCH; arenavirus; congenital lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus; hydrocephalus; ventriculomegaly