Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) DNAemia in the mother at amniocentesis as a risk factor for iatrogenic HCMV infection of the fetus.

Abstract

To investigate whether invasive procedures performed in the presence of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) DNA in maternal peripheral blood (HCMV DNAemia) represent a risk for iatrogenic transmission of HCMV infection to the fetus, 194 pregnant women undergoing prenatal diagnosis because of a primary HCMV infection and their 199 fetuses were investigated. Overall, 27 (37%) of 73 mothers of uninfected fetuses and 22 (37%) of 59 mothers of infected fetuses were HCMV DNAemia-positive at amniocentesis. Of the 8 mothers of the 8 fetuses with false-negative amniocentesis results, 4 were DNAemia-positive and 4 were DNAemia-negative at amniocentesis. Therefore, maternal HCMV DNAemia is not a significant risk factor for iatrogenic HCMV transmission to the fetus during amniocentesis.