Clinically targeted screening for congenital CMV - potential for integration into the National Hearing Screening Programme.
Screening for a condition should only be undertaken if certain strict criteria are met. Congenital CMV (cCMV) is a leading cause of sensorineuronal hearing loss (SNHL) and meets many of these criteria, but is not currently screened for in the UK. Ganciclovir reduces CMV-induced progressive SNHL if treatment is begun in the first month of life. The Newborn Hearing Screening Programme (NHSP) has been shown to identify SNHL at the earliest possible age. The potential of integrating screening for cCMV into the NHSP is discussed to consolidate the link between screening, early diagnosis and management.


CONCLUSIONS
The early diagnosis and treatment of cCMV may prevent a small proportion of late SNHL. In the absence of any screening programme, we provide evidence that clinically targeted screening through the NHSP is a potential option in the UK, enhancing the diagnostic pathway and enabling appropriate early treatment to reduce long-term morbidity.
Paediatric Infectious Diseases Research Group, Jenner Wing, St George's University of London, London, UK. skadamba@sgul.ac.uk
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S
Kadambari
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S
Luck
A
A
Davis
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Williams
J
J
Berrington
Pd
P
Griffiths
M
M
Sharland
D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000151:congenital / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D015774:Ganciclovir / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015997:Neonatal Screening / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration*; D013222:State Medicine; D006113:United Kingdom
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D015774:Ganciclovir
Congenital CMV; Screening; Sensorineural hearing loss