Prenatal cytomegalovirus disease and cerebral microgyria: evidence for perfusion failure, not disturbance of histogenesis, as the major cause of fetal cytomegalovirus encephalopathy

Neuropediatrics. 1984 Feb;15(1):18-24. doi: 10.1055/s-2008-1052334.

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.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Brain / abnormalities*
  • Brain / pathology
  • Brain Diseases / congenital*
  • Brain Diseases / embryology
  • Brain Diseases / etiology
  • Brain Diseases / pathology
  • Brain Ischemia / congenital
  • Brain Ischemia / etiology
  • Brain Ischemia / pathology
  • Cerebral Cortex / pathology
  • Cytomegalovirus Infections / complications
  • Cytomegalovirus Infections / congenital*
  • Cytomegalovirus Infections / embryology
  • Female
  • Fetal Diseases*
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Pregnancy