New Insights about Congenital Infection by Human Cytomegalovirus: Unveiling the Role of PPARγ

Infections by neurotropic viruses in pregnancy may lead to neurodevelopmental abnormalities in the fetus. As infections by rubella, varicella zoster, or HIV to name a few, congenital infection by human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) may cause spontaneous abortion, fetal death, or neuro developmental abnormalities. 

Indeed, HCMV is the most frequent infectious cause of permanent neurological sequelae. About 1% of newborns are congenitally infected with HCMV each year.Five to 10% among them show severe neurological or neurodevelopmental defects at birth, presenting with deafness, blindness, mental retardation, cerebralpalsy,microcephaly, hydrocephalus whereas 10 to 15% additional infected infants are asymptomatic at birth but subsequently develop sensorineural hearing loss, seizure or epilepsy. Read more>>>>>>>>>>>>>