Hearing loss in children with congenital cytomegalovirus infection in relation to the maternal trimester in which the maternal primary infection occurred.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this work was to study the relation between maternal
trimester of primary infection with cytomegalovirus and the occurrence of
sensorineural hearing loss in the congenitally infected offspring. PATIENTS AND
METHODS: Thirty-four consecutive live-born children diagnosed with a congenital
cytomegalovirus infection after maternal primary cytomegalovirus infections were
included in the study. Five were lost for follow-up, and 1 died. Of the remaining
28 congenitally infected children, an estimation of the maternal trimester in
which cytomegalovirus primary infection occurred was performed. All of the
children were investigated for potential sensorineural hearing loss. RESULTS:
Five of the maternal infections occurred in the first trimester, 12 in the second
trimester, and 11 in the third trimester of pregnancy. Sensorineural hearing loss
was detected in 4 (80%) of the 5 congenitally infected children who were infected
after a primary maternal infection in the first trimester of pregnancy and in 1
(8%) of the 12 children when the maternal infection occurred in the second
trimester of pregnancy. No sensorineural hearing loss was detected after primary
maternal infection occurring in the third trimester. Fluctuation and improvement
of sensorineural hearing loss were seen regardless the trimester of pregnancy
during which maternal primary infection occurred. Progression of sensorineural
hearing loss occurred in 2 children born after a maternal primary infection of
the first trimester. CONCLUSIONS: Hearing loss seemed more common in infants with
congenital cytomegalovirus infection who were born to women who experienced a
primary cytomegalovirus infection in the first trimester of pregnancy than when
infection took place later in pregnancy.