Prenatal acquired cytomegalovirus infection should be considered in children with autism.

Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of congenital cytomegalovirus infection (CMV) in a representative sample of children with autism spectrum disorder.

Methods: In a representative group of 115 preschool children with autism spectrum disorder, of whom 33 also had intellectual disability, the dried blood spots from the newborn metabolic screening were analysed for CMV DNA using TaqMan polymerase chain reaction.

Results: One of the 33 children with autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability - 3% of that group - had congenital CMV infection.

Chorioretinal scars and visual deprivation are common in children with cochlear implants after congenital cytomegalovirus infection.

Aim: The aim of this study was to compare visual function and ocular characteristics in children with cochlear implants, due to severe hearing impairment caused by the congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection, with control children fitted with cochlear implants due to connexin 26 mutations (Cx26), a genetic cause of hearing impairment.

Methods: We carried out ophthalmological assessments, including visual acuity, ocular alignment, Ocular Motor Score, biomicroscopy and fundus photography, on 26 children with congenital CMV (median age 8.3 years, range 1.

Impaired balance and neurodevelopmental disabilities among children with congenital cytomegalovirus infection.

Aim: Although cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the most common congenital infection, existing research has not provided us with a full picture of how this can affect children in the future. The aim of this case-control study was to evaluate disabilities in a well-defined group of children with congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection, who had been fitted with cochlear implants because of severe hearing impairment.

Methods: A multidisciplinary team assessed 26 children with congenital CMV infection for balance difficulties, neurodevelopmental disabilities and language and visual impairment.

Cytomegalovirus-specific CD4 and CD8 T cell responses in infants and children.

Congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is the most common congenital infection causing childhood morbidity. The pathogenetic mechanisms behind long-term sequelae are unclear, but long-standing viremia as a consequence of the inability to convert the virus to a latent state has been suggested to be involved. Whereas primary CMV infection in adults is typically rapidly controlled by the immune system, children have been shown to excrete virus for years.

Congenital cytomegalovirus infection - a common cause of hearing loss of unknown aetiology.

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the role of congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection as a cause of various types of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) in a group of nonsyndromic children with otherwise unknown aetiology of hearing loss. Furthermore, the occurrence of combined congenital CMV infection and connexin 26 (Cx26) mutations was investigated.

Methods: The dried blood spot (DBS) cards of 45 children with various degrees of hearing deficits and 46 children with severe/profound hearing loss were tested for CMV DNA with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique.