Background: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) transmission from mother to fetus occurs at a much greater rate following primary rather than reactivated infections and CMV dissemination in the mother is considered a key step in the pathogenesis of fetal infection. However, knowledge of CMV DNAemia in CMV-seropositive pregnant women is very limited.
Objective: Major objective of this study was to assess the prevalence and diagnostic value of CMV DNAemia in a large population of seropositive pregnant women.
Study design: Serologic and DNAemia results obtained from 2211 blood samples of 1371 consecutive pregnant women referred to our Institution for suspected CMV infection in the period 2001-2010 were reviewed.
Results: DNAemia was detected in 452/597 (75.7%) women with serologic evidence of primary CMV infection and in 4/774 (0.5%) women without evidence of primary infection.
Conclusion: In pregnant women, CMV DNAemia is detected primarily during primary infection. CMV DNAemia determination may be helpful in the diagnosis of primary infection.
Keywords: DNAemia; Human cytomegalovirus; Non-primary infection; Pregnancy; Primary infection.
Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.