Congenital cytomegalovirus infection in Korean population with very high prevalence of maternal Immunity.
- Author:
Young Mo SOHN
1
;
Kook In PARK
;
Chul LEE
;
Dong Gwan HAN
;
Won Young LEE
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords: Cytomegalovirus; Congenital infection
- MeSH: Adult; Cytomegalovirus Infections/congenital/*epidemiology/immunology/metabolism; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; *Immunity, Maternally-Acquired; Immunoglobulin G/blood; Immunoglobulin M/blood; Infant, Newborn; Korea/epidemiology; Pregnancy
- From:Journal of Korean Medical Science 1992;7(1):47-51
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: In order to asses congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in Korea, five hundred and seventy five pregnant women (mean age 29.5 +/- 3.8 yrs., mean gestational age at test 37.5 +/- 6.7 weeks) visiting the prenatal clinic at Severance Hospital, Seoul, Korea were studied. CMV IgG antibody was present in 96% (552/575) and IgM antibody was present in 0.7% (4/575) of the pregnant women by the third trimester. Four of 445 cord sera were positive for CMV IgM antibody (0.9%). Urine samples from 514 newborns were tested for the evaluation of congenital CMV infection. Six (1.2%) of 514 newborns excreted CMV in their urine. All the congenitally infected infants had subclinical involvement at birth and during the 12 months of the follow-up period. These results indicate that Korean pregnant women were highly immunized against CMV by the third trimester. Furthermore this study suggests that the rate of congenital CMV infection is relatively as high as rates previously reported from other countries, although there is a very high prevalence of maternal immunity. The incidence of maternal primary infection during pregnancy seems to be rare and therefore most congenital infections in Korea might be following by maternal reactivation or reinfection.
