Congenital cytomegalovirus infection: Hematological evolution in newborn infants treated with ganciclovir

Giriş

To verify the hematological evolution of newborns with congenital eytomegalovirus infection treated with Ganciclovir and two type of regimens.

Yöntem

From Januaıy 1998 to December 2000, we studied 24 neonates with symptomatic congenital eytomegalovirus infection (CMV) that were admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Çare Unit (NICU). The newborns were classified into two groups: 14 neonates were given an initial treatment course of 7.5 mg/Kg twice daily for three weeks, then a maintenance course of 10 mg/Kg three times a week for 3 months (Nigro 1994) (group A) and 10 neonates received 7.5 mg/Kg twice daily for three weeks (group B). Criteria for eligibility were: signs and symptoms compatible with a congenital infection from whom a specimen of urine and blood could be taken in the first 21 clays of life.

Bulgular

in group A the CMV cultures and CMV DNA of specimens from eleven infants (80%) became sterile. İn group B, five infants (50%) had negative CMV culture and CMV DNA results. The clinical features in group A ineluded hepatomegaly (92.8%), splenomegaly (64.2%), anemia (57.1%), jaundice (55%) and petachial rash (55%). Hematological results are shown below: table 1 and table 2.

Sonuç

 The authors concluded that the newborn infants that had been üealed with Ganciclovir for a period of 3 months (group A) presented hematological evolution better than the group that was treated for a period of three weeks (group B) and the majority of newborn infants from group A showed CMV culture e CMV DNA negative shortly after the treatment. it is safe to assume that patients submitted to a prolonged treatment with Ganciclovir respond far better than the ones treated över a shurter period.