L Ching, JCY Lee, KWK Chan, WH Chan

Abstract

Objective: Congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) infection is one of the most common congenital intrauterine infections worldwide, and it is well-known to be associated with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) and long-term adverse neurological outcomes in children. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) severity score by Lucignani et al is reported to be a good predictor for such outcomes. This study aims to show whether the MRI severity score can predict the neurological outcomes in cCMV infection patients. Method: Total 21 paediatric patients who were diagnosed to have cCMV infection and MRI performed between the year 2015 and 2024 in Queen Elizabeth Hospital were included. Images of their MRI brain were reviewed by two radiologists blinded to clinical data and gave an MRI severity score by Lucignani et al. Results: MRI score equal to or more than 2 is associated with adverse neurologic outcomes, while no association is demonstrated for other clinical parameters such as birth weight and gestational week. Conclusion: MRI severity score is shown to be associated with adverse neurological outcomes. Therefore, early MRI brain is helpful for telling prognosis in cCMV infection patients.