The utility of infection screening in isolated mild ventriculomegaly: an observational retrospective study on 141 fetuses

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the utility of screening for infections in case of isolated mild ventriculomegaly (imVM). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 141 cases of imVM. Screening for infections including TORCH, parvovirus B19, and syphilis was carried out in all cases. Follow-up ultrasound, fetal karyotype, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were offered. Postnatal follow-up was obtained from pediatricians, medical records, parents, and postmortem reports in cases of termination of pregnancy or stillbirth. RESULTS: The imVM was bilateral in 70 fetuses and unilateral in 71 and regressed during pregnancy in 66.6% of cases. Associated anomalies were observed in 15 cases with follow-up ultrasound and in seven cases with MRI. Fetal karyotype was abnormal in one fetus (47, XXY). Maternal IgM for parvovirus B19 resulted positive in 4.6% of cases, and one neonate was infected without any fetal/neonatal adverse consequence. Recent cytomegalovirus infection was documented in 4.4% of cases. Only in one case the infection was transmitted to the fetus; after 3 years, the child has good neuromotor development but has severe hearing impairment. CONCLUSIONS: When this diagnosis occurs, tests could be limited to cytomegalovirus and parvovirus B19, whereas a complete TORCH screening is probably not necessary.