A little known infection. Yves Ville, gynecologist and director of the prenatal diagnosis center for fetal medicine at the Necker hospital in Paris, advocates for the generalization of cytomegalovirus (CMV) screening in pregnant women, this Monday in The Parisian. The infection, harmless to the majority of the population, can have serious consequences for the fetus.
“I am campaigning to have my blood tested as soon as possible, almost at the moment of discovery of the pregnancy,” the doctor proclaims. “Nobody talks about it, it’s the infection we don’t want to see,” he laments.
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a highly contagious viral infection that is transmitted most often through respiratory secretions (spitting, sneezing, tears, etc.), according to the Ministry of Health. It is caused by a virus that belongs to the herpes family.
“The most common congenital infection”
In the majority of the population, it manifests itself with fever, general fatigue, headaches, muscle pain or even pharyngitis. Although most often mild, CMV infection can cause serious developmental disorders in the fetus when the mother-to-be is infected. CMV can “cross the placenta and therefore infect the fetus,” warns Yves Ville.
“With 0.7% of births affected, this makes it the most common congenital infection,” he says.
With the key, serious consequences for the fetus: “neurological, motor or auditory sequelae”, lists the doctor. To the point that CMV is “the leading cause of deafness in children”, excluding genetic causes. In addition, in one third of cases of severe infection, premature labor or miscarriage occurs.
Young pregnant mothers particularly at risk
According to the Ministry of Health, children under 3 years of age are “the most frequent source of infection” by CMV. Pregnant women who are already mothers are therefore at high risk of being contaminated, hence the proposal of Dr. Yves Ville.
“80% of the children in the nursery are in contact with CMV. The expectant mother is usually infected in contact with the eldest, ”she says.
Because if people at risk are recommended to avoid close contact with an individual carrying the virus, the task is difficult for a young mother and her young son, although the gynecologist claims to “seriously advise” prevention for non-immune women. .
For greater efficiency, it is better to screen using a blood test, as is done in Germany and Israel, Yves Ville believes.
A vaccine in the testing phase
If the infection has not been detected in time, there is still a treatment. “Taken early, it reduces the risk of transmission by 70%,” underlines Necker’s boss.
Another piece of good news, the Moderna laboratory is developing a vaccine based on messenger RNA. Currently in Phase 3 research, it is being clinically tested with 7,300 women worldwide, including some at Necker Hospital.
“The potential arrival of a vaccine is very encouraging,” Yves Ville rejoices, while arguing that these advances should not close the door on preventive measures.
Source: BFM TV
