Perinatal cytomegalovirus and varicella zoster virus infections: epidemiology, prevention, and treatment

Clin Perinatol. 2015 Mar;42(1):61-75, viii. doi: 10.1016/j.clp.2014.10.006. Epub 2014 Nov 28.

Abstract

Mother-to-child transmission of cytomegalovirus (CMV) and varicella zoster virus (VZV) can lead to severe birth defects and neurologic impairment of infants. Congenital CMV complicates up to 1% of all pregnancies globally. Although antiviral treatment of infants congenitally infected with CMV can ameliorate the CMV-associated hearing loss and developmental delay, interventions to prevent congenital CMV infection and the associated neurologic impairments are still being evaluated. Congenital VZV infection is rare. Active and passive immunization strategies to prevent perinatal CMV infection with similar efficacy to those established to prevent perinatal VZV infections are critically needed in pediatric health.

Keywords: Birth defects; Cytomegalovirus (CMV); Neurologic impairment; Varicella zoster virus (VZV).

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use
  • Chickenpox / drug therapy
  • Chickenpox / epidemiology
  • Chickenpox / prevention & control*
  • Chickenpox Vaccine / therapeutic use*
  • Cytomegalovirus Infections / drug therapy
  • Cytomegalovirus Infections / epidemiology
  • Cytomegalovirus Infections / prevention & control*
  • Cytomegalovirus Vaccines / therapeutic use*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Male
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / drug therapy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / epidemiology
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / prevention & control*

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Chickenpox Vaccine
  • Cytomegalovirus Vaccines