Cytomegalovirus and Epstein–Barr virus may be associated with some cases of cerebral palsy
Date
2012
Authors
McMichael, G.
MacLennan, A.
Gibson, C.
Alvino, E.
Goldwater, P.
Haan, E.
Dekker, G.
Editors
Advisors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Type:
Journal article
Citation
The Journal of Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine, 2012; 25(10):2078-2081
Statement of Responsibility
Gai McMichael, Alastair MacLennan, Catherine Gibson, Emily Alvino, Paul Goldwater, Eric Haan, Gustaaf Dekker
Conference Name
Abstract
Objective: Intrauterine infection is a risk factor for cerebral palsy. Previous work reported a high frequency of viral DNA in newborn screening cards from cerebral palsy cases and controls possibly due to contamination. Methods: Retrospective case-control study using improved methodologies to minimize contamination during PCR-based detection of viral DNA sequences. Newborn screening cards of 339 Caucasian children with cerebral palsy and 594 controls were examined. Viruses tested were herpes simplex viruses 1 and 2 (HSV1 and 2), varicella zoster virus (VZV), Epstein–Barr virus (EBV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), human herpes viruses 6, 7 and 8 (HHV6, HHV7 and HHV8), and parvovirus B19. Genotyping was performed on DNA extracted from dried blood spots. Results: CMV and EBV were detected in 5 (1.5%) and 3 (0.9%) of 339 cases, respectively, but not in controls (p = 0.047 and 0.006). Frequencies of detection of the other viruses examined were similar for cases and controls. DNA from at least one of the nine viruses tested was found in 4.4% of cases and 3.1% of controls [OR 1.4 95% CI (0.71–2.76)]. Conclusion: Evidence of congenital viral infection was uncommon in cases of cerebral palsy and controls. However, CMV and EBV were significantly associated with cerebral palsy.