Prognosis of primary cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in pregnancy

Prenatal primary infections with the cytomegalovirus is one of the most relevant infections in pregnancy. It can lead to a considerable developmental disorder of the child but can also be without consequences. The time of maternal infection and, subsequently, the probability of maternal-fetal transmission are of crucial importance for risk assessment. The frequency of transmission increases with increasing gestational age; however, at the same time the probability of fetal and postnatal sequelae decreases. Therapeutic approaches include prevention of maternal infection through hygiene measures, prevention of transmission through hyperimmunoglobulin and treatment of the fetus with valacyclovir.