Neuropediatrics 1984; 15(1): 18-24
DOI: 10.1055/s-2008-1052334
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Prenatal Cytomegalovirus Disease and Cerebral Microgyria: Evidence for Perfusion Failure, not Disturbance of Histogenesis, as the Major Cause of Fetal Cytomegalovirus Encephalopathy

M. J. Marques Dias , G.  Harmant-van Rijckevorsel , P.  Landrieu , G.  Lyon
  • Laboratory of Developmental Neurology and Pediatric Neurology Service, University of Louvain (U. C. L.), Medical School, B-1200 Bruxelles, Belgium
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Publication History

Publication Date:
14 May 2008 (online)

Abstract

From the study of four personal cases of microgyria related to fetal CMV infection and a review of the literature it is concluded that: 1) Microgyria is a frequent neuropathological finding in this disease - 2) CMV microgyria is the result of an insufficiency of cerebral blood supply and is not due to a disturbance of neurogenesis or histogenesis as a consequence of a direct cytopathic effect of the virus on germinal cells. The way by which the CMV causes cerebral ischemia - angeitis or more probably, transient systemic perfusion failure, - is discussed, but remains obscure. Other viruses may act on the fetal brain by way of circulatory disturbances.