title: Lenticulostriated vasculopathy is a high-risk marker for hearing loss in congenital cytomegalovirus infections.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study investigated the relationship between lenticulostriated vasculopathy (LSV) and hearing loss in 141 infants with congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  We included all infants with cCMV infection who were followed in our clinic for more than a year with only LSV signs of brain involvement on initial brain ultrasound. Group one comprised 13 infants with no hearing impairment at birth who were not treated with gan/valganciclovir during 2006-2009. Group two was 51 infants with LSV and no hearing impairment who had been treated since mid-2009. Group three was 25 infants born with LSV and hearing loss, who had been treated from birth. Group four was 52 control infants born during the same period with asymptomatic cCMV. Hearing tests were performed during the neonatal period and every four to six months until four years of age.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hearing deterioration was more extensive in group one (85%) than in group two (0%, p < 0.001) and the asymptomatic group (10%, p < 0.001) and occurred more often in group four (10%) than in group two (0%, p = 0.008).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lenticulostriated vasculopathy was common in infants with cCMV infection and may serve as a sign of central nervous system involvement and further hearing deterioration. Antiviral treatment may be prudent in such infants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics C, Schneider Children's Medical Center, Petah Tiqva, Israel.|Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Efraim
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bilavsky
authors.affiliation: Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.|Department of Pediatric Radiology, Schneider Children's Medical Center, Petah Tiqva, Israel.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schwarz
authors.affiliation: Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.|Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Hospital, Petah Tiqva, Israel.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pardo
authors.affiliation: Institute of Audiology and Clinical Neurophysiology, Schneider Children's Medical Center, Petah Tiqva, Israel.|Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Attias
authors.affiliation: Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.|Infectious Diseases Unit, Schneider Children's Medical Center, Petah Tiqva, Israel.
authors.forename: Itzhak
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Levy
authors.affiliation: Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.|Day Hospitalization Unit, Schneider Children's Medical Center, Petah Tiqva, Israel.
authors.forename: Yishai
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Haimi-Cohen
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics C, Schneider Children's Medical Center, Petah Tiqva, Israel.|Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Jacob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Amir
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020144:Basal Ganglia Cerebrovascular Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000151:congenital* / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D015774:Ganciclovir / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D000077562:Valganciclovir
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077562:Valganciclovir; D015774:Ganciclovir
keywords: Brain; Congenital infection; Cytomegalovirus; Hearing loss; Lenticulostriated vasculopathy