Long-term outcomes of children with symptomatic congenital cytomegalovirus disease

OBJECTIVE: To assess long-term outcomes of children with symptomatic congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease detected at birth. METHODS: We used Cox regression to assess risk factors for intellectual disability (intelligence quotient <70), sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL; hearing level ≥25 dB in any audiometric frequency), and vision impairment (best corrected visual acuity >20 or based on ophthalmologist report). RESULTS: Among 76 case-patients followed through median age of 13 (range: 0–27) years, 56 (74%) had SNHL, 31 (43%, n=72) had intellectual disability, and 18 (27%, n=66) had vision impairment; 28 (43%, n=65) had intellectual disability and SNHL with/without vision impairment. Microcephaly was significantly associated with each of the three outcomes. Tissue destruction and dysplastic growth on head computed tomography scan at birth was significantly associated with intellectual disability and SNHL. CONCLUSION: Infants with symptomatic congenital CMV disease may develop moderate to severe impairments, which were associated with presence of microcephaly and brain abnormalities.