Treatment of congenital cytomegalovirus beyond the neonatal period: an observational study

Recently, valganciclovir treatment of symptomatic congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) disease, commenced during the neonatal period (≤ 4 weeks), was found to improve hearing and developmental outcome. However, many children (symptomatic or asymptomatic at birth) present only after 4 weeks of age. The purpose of this observational retrospective study was to describe the outcome and safety of valganciclovir therapy in infants with cCMV who started treatment > 4 weeks of life. Of the 91children who started antiviral treatment > 4 weeks of age, 66/298 (22.2%) were symptomatic at birth; 25/217 (11.5%) were asymptomatic at birth. Treatment was initiated on average at 14 weeks of age (range 5–77 weeks) and at 53.3 weeks (range 12–156 weeks), respectively. Of the 45 affected ears in the symptomatic group, 30 (66.7%) improved and only 2 (4.4%) deteriorated, with most of the improved ears (27/30, 90%) returning to normal. In the asymptomatic group, late-onset treatment was initiated and out of the 42 deteriorated ears, 38 (90.5%) improved after at least 1 year of follow-up. Hematological adverse events, i.e., neutropenia, were noted in a minority of cases (4.4%). Conclusion: Our study demonstrates the benefits and safety aspects of treating symptomatic and asymptomatic children with cCMV even beyond the recommended neonatal period.What is Known:• Valganciclovir treatment of symptomatic congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) disease, commenced during the neonatal period, is beneficial in improving hearing and developmental outcome.• However, data of treatment started beyond the neonatal period is lacking.What is New:• Our study demonstrates the benefits of treating symptomatic children with cCMV as well as asymptomatic children that develop late-onset hearing loss even beyond the recommended neonatal period.• This was true for symptomatic children who presented > 4 weeks as well as to those were asymptomatic at birth but experienced late hearing deterioration.