Cytomegalovirus infection in Gambian mothers and their babies

Article Abstract:

The cytomegalovirus (CMV) belongs to the herpes family of viruses. It is the most common source of infection in newborn infants, and it can cause brain damage. It is estimated that 50 percent of the babies born to mothers with CMV infection will be infected. Approximately 2 to 7 percent of the infected babies will have some form of damage to the nervous system. The majority of CMV infections occur during childhood and do not produce any symptoms. The virus can remain in an inactive or latent stage and cause a recurrent infection later in life, however. CMV can travel throughout the body and can be found in samples of blood, urine, saliva, semen and breast milk. The exact mode of transmission of the virus has not been clearly defined, and it probably varies depending on sexual behavior and socioeconomic class. To gain a better understanding of the factors that govern the transmission of CMV infection, 178 Gambian mothers and their children were examined over a 15-month period. Eighty-seven percent of the mothers had antibodies to CMV in their blood, indicating that they had been infected with CMV at some stage in their life. Fourteen percent of the babies had antibodies to CMV, and two of those 25 babies had severe nerve damage. By the time the infants reached six months of age, 53 percent had virus evident in their urine or saliva. By the time the infants reached one year of age, 86 percent were positive for CMV infection. There was no difference in body weight, height or head size between the infants infected at birth and those that developed CMV infection at one year of age. It is possible that crowded living conditions may favor the transmission of CMV from one sibling to another. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Health aspects, Infection, Infants (Newborn), Newborn infants, Mothers, Gambia

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Cachexia and tumour necrosis factor-alpha in cytomegalovirus infection

Article Abstract:

Patients who have received organ transplants are treated with drugs that suppress the immune system to prevent the body from rejecting the transplanted organ. This means that these patients are at greater risk for developing life-threatening infections. Infection with cytomegalovirus (CMV) is common in transplant patients. Most of the patients who develop an infection with CMV also have cachexia (severe weight loss and appetite loss that can result in death). Previous studies have shown that a protein called tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) can cause cachexia when injected into rats and mice. TNF is made by cells in the immune system and it has been suggested as the cause of cachexia among patients with cancer. To determine if TNF is responsible for causing cachexia in organ transplant patients with CMV infection, 18 liver transplant patients were studied. Blood samples were drawn, the amount of TNF present in the blood was measured, and body weights were recorded. Seven weeks after liver transplantation, 8 of the 18 patients developed CMV infection. These patients had higher blood levels of TNF than those without CMV infection. All of the patients with CMV infection experienced severe weight loss. Cachexia did not occur in the patients without CMV infection. It is concluded that blood levels of TNF are higher than normal in transplant patients who develop infections with CMV, and TNF may be responsible for causing cachexia in these patients. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Cases, Physiological aspects, Tumor necrosis factor, Cachexia

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Cytomegalovirus encephalitis

Article Abstract:

Cytomegalovirus encephalitis appears to be a common complication in HIV-positive patients and patients with suppressed immune systems. Encephalitis is an infection of the brain. A review of the literature revealed that of 676 patients with the diagnosis of cytomegalovirus encephalitis, 85% were HIV positive, 12% were transplant recipients or otherwise immunosuppressed, and 3% were previously healthy. The infection has distinctive features in HIV patients and can be distinguished from HIV encephalopathy. Testing cerebrospinal fluid for the presence of viral RNA may help diagnose the infection, which may allow for earlier and more aggressive therapy.

Care and treatment, Encephalitis

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