Prenatal Ultrasound Findings
Sometimes, fetuses infected with CMV (congenital CMV) will show visible signs on prenatal ultrasounds or MRIs. However infected most fetuses do not have any visible signs in utero. Some of these findings may be:
- Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR)
- Microcephaly – small head circumference
- Echogenic foci (bright spots) of the intestines, liver, brain or heart
- Organomegaly – abnormal enlargement of organs
- Hepatomegaly – abnormal enlargement of the liver
- Splenomegaly – abnormal enlargement of the spleen
- Differences in the formation of the kidney or urinary system
- Pyelectasis – dilation of the renal pelvis, the funnel-like dilated proximal part of the ureter (muscular tubes that propel urine from the kidneys to the urinary bladder) in the kidney (also a marker for Down Syndrome)
- Megaloureter – abnormal dilation of the ureter
- Brain anomalies
- Cerebral ventriculomegaly – dilation of the lateral ventricles of the brain
- Intracranial calcifications – the build-up of calcium salts in the soft tissue of the brain
- Hyperdense image in thalamic arteries
- Periventricular echodensities
- Cystic structures in the germinal zone of the brain
- Fluid Accumulation
- Ascites - accumulation of fluid in the abdomen
- Fetal hydrops - accumulation of fluid in the fetal compartments
- Placental thickening
Findings in Newborns
Most babies born with congenital CMV will have no visible signs or symptoms at birth. A few will have apparent signs of the infection which could include:
- Thrombocytopenia – low blood platelet levels
- Petechiae (purpura) – red or purple spots on the body caused by broken blood vessels
- Jaundice caused by a high direct or congugated bilirubin level
- Microcephaly – small head size
- Small size at birth Small for gestational age (SGA)
- Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR)
- Premature birth of unknown etiology
- Liver problems (englarged liver, and high liver enzyme levels)
- Spleen problems
- Lung problems
- Growth problems
- Seizures
- Hearing loss
- Vision loss
- Brain formation differences (calicifications, polymicrogyria, cortical migration differences, lenticulostriate vasculopathy etc)