Prevalência da infecção congênita por citomegalovírus e perfil de citocinas nos pacientes prematuros, pequenos para a idade gestacional ou baixo peso

Abstract

Objective - The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of congenital CMV infection in the population of small for gestacional age, low birth weight or preterm patients and compare with the prevalence in patients without this risk factors. Also, describe the cytokine profile found in both groups and identify clinical and epidemiological differences. Method - Case-control, multicenter study, carried out from 2016 to 2020. Patients with restricted intrauterine growth, low birth weight or premature infants were included in the case group, while patients with adequate weight, born at term, were included in the control group. Among the patients included in the study, 75 patients were selected for CMV Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and cytokine dosage, 39 in the case group and 36 in the control group. Results - Among the 213 patients with the sample collected, 75 patients were diagnosed with Cytomegalovirus and cytokine dosage, 39 in the case group and 36 in the control group. PCR for CMV was positive in 7 patients, resulting in a prevalence of 9%. In the control group 3 (8%) patients were positive and in the case group 4 (10%), without statistical significance (p=0.77). The dosage of cytokines showed no statistical difference between the two groups. The cytokines IFN α, TNF β and IL-10 showed higher dosage in the group of patients infected with Cytomegalovirus when compared to the group of non-infected ones (p<0.05). Conclusion - Although Cytomegalovirus can result in prematurity, IUGR and low birth weight, the interaction between congenital infection and these risk factors is not well established. Further studies are needed to better define this relationship. Furthermore, the cytokine profile found suggests that congenital CMV infection may result in an alteration in the inflammation cascade, however, further studies are needed to confirm and establish the importance of the alterations found. Key words: Cytomegalovirus; Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; Infant, Small for Gestational Age; Infant, Premature; Fetal Growth Retardation