Neurological Manifestations of Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection at a Tertiary Care Centre from Southern India

Background Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a ubiquitous herpes virus. It is the most common congenital viral infection. Data on congenital CMV in India are lacking and hence the present study was undertaken. Objectives The aim of the study is to evaluate the clinical and radiological profile of neurological manifestations of congenital CMV infections in tertiary care hospital. Methods This is a retrospective chart review of the clinical and laboratory profile of congenital CMV infections presenting from January 2018 to February 2020 to a tertiary care hospital in Southern India. Details of clinical profile, serological and neuroimaging data were obtained and analyzed. Results A total of 42 cases with female preponderance (57%) were reported during the study period. The mean age of presentation was 2.9 years. Clinical features were developmental delay (81%), microcephaly (93%), seizures (33%), intrauterine growth restriction (19%), neonatal encephalopathy (10%), anemia (9%), jaundice (10%), hepato-splenomegaly (7%), and eye abnormalities (14%). Antenatal maternal fever was reported by 12%. Sensorineural hearing loss was present in 57%. Neuroimaging showed periventricular calcification (79%), cerebral atrophy (69%), ventricular dilatation (55%), malformations (26%), dysmyelination (12%), and temporal lobe cysts (5%). CMV-immunoglobulin-M positivity was seen in 14 cases (33%), urinary polymerase chain reaction for CMV was positive in 21 cases (50%), and clinical diagnosis was done in seven cases (16%). Conclusion Common findings in congenital CMV are microcephaly, developmental delay, seizures, anemia, and sensorineural hearing loss. Common neuroimaging findings are periventricular calcification, cerebral atrophy, malformation, white matter signal changes, and cysts. CMV can mimic like cerebral palsy, malformations of the brain, demyelinating disorders, and calcified leukoencephalopathies like Aicardi-Goutières syndrome.