Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection and Hearing Impairment

Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is the most common congenital deficit. As non genetic contributions congenital cytomegalovirus infection (cCMV) is the most frequent cause for this disease. In 10% 20% of patients with sensorineural hearing loss intrauterine infection with cytomegalovirus is diagnosed. Hearing impairment due to CMV can be diagnosed at birth; nevertheless 33% 50% is late-onset loss. Infection of the inner ear seems to lead to a potassium dysregulation in the endolymphatic compartment, thus inducing a secondary degeneration of the sensory structures. An early start with intravenous virostatic therapy seems to be able to prevent SNHL in primary asymptomatic children and improve hearing status in infants born with cCMV and hearing impairment.