Case report on early treatment with valaciclovir after maternal primary cytomegalovirus infection

Abstract

Background: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the main cause of congenital viral infections. Current guidelines do not include any recommendation about antenatal treatment. Most studies that evaluate the efficacy of valaciclovir aim to treat infected symptomatic fetus but the benefit of anti-CMV therapy remains unclear.

Case presentation: We report the case of cytomegalovirus seroconversion during the second trimester of pregnancy. Early treatment with valaciclovir was introduced, associated with a close monitoring of maternal CMV viremia. The virus was no longer detected in maternal blood soon after the beginning of antiviral therapy. Valaciclovir was stopped at 24 + 5 WG after negative prenatal diagnosis but CMV viremia was still monitored in maternal blood until the end of pregnancy.

Conclusion: The neonate was not infected and remained asymptomatic. It suggests that early treatment with valaciclovir 8 g per day could be effective in quickly reducing maternal viral load and lowering the risk of vertical CMV transmission.

Keywords: Cytomegalovirus; Pregnancy; Valaciclovir.