Maternal–Fetal Infections (Cytomegalovirus, <i>Toxoplasma</i>, Syphilis): Short-Term and Long-Term Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in Children Infected and Uninfected at Birth

oleh: Cinzia Auriti, Silvia Bucci, Domenico Umberto De Rose, Luana Coltella, Alessandra Santisi, Ludovica Martini, Chiara Maddaloni, Iliana Bersani, Simona Lozzi, Francesca Campi, Concettina Pacifico, Martina Balestri, Daniela Longo, Teresa Grimaldi

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: MDPI AG 2022-10-01

Deskripsi

(1) Background: Infections in pregnancy can lead to miscarriage, premature birth, infections in newborns, and developmental disabilities in babies. Infected infants, symptomatic at birth, can have long-term sequelae, and asymptomatic babies are also at increased risk of developing long-term sensorineural outcomes. Targeted therapy of the pregnant mother can reduce fetal and neonatal harm. (2) Aim of the study: To explore the association between symptoms and time of onset of long-term sequelae in infected children born from mothers who contracted an infection during pregnancy, by a long-term multidisciplinary follow-up. (3) Methods: For up to 2–4 years, we evaluated cognitive, motor, audiological, visual, and language outcomes in infants with symptomatic and asymptomatic congenital infections and in uninfected infants. (4) Results: 186 infants born from women who acquired Cytomegalovirus infection (<i>n</i> = 103), <i>Toxoplasma</i> infection (<i>n</i> = 50), and Syphilis (<i>n</i> = 33) during pregnancy were observed. Among them, 119 infants acquired the infection in utero. Infected infants, symptomatic at birth, obtained lower scores on the Cognitive and Motor Scale on Bayley-III compared to asymptomatic and uninfected infants (<i>p</i> = 0.026; <i>p</i> = 0.049). Many severe or moderate sequelae rose up within the first year of life. At 24 months, we observed sequelae in 24.6% (14/57) of infected children classified as asymptomatic at birth, compared to 68.6% (24/35) of symptomatic ones (χ<sup>2</sup> = 15.56; <i>p</i> < 0.001); (5) Conclusions: Infected babies symptomatic at birth have a worse prognosis than asymptomatic ones. Long-term sequelae may occur in infected children asymptomatic at birth after the first year of life. Multidisciplinary follow-up until 4–6 years of age should be performed in all infected children, regardless of the presence of symptoms at birth.