Background: This study was designed to determine whether elevated viral load in infants and young children is associated with congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV)-related hearing loss. Methods: Blood samples were obtained from 135 children with congenital CMV infection. CMV DNA in the peripheral blood was quantitated with a real-time polymerase chain reaction assay. Viral load measurements were analyzed in 3 different age groups (>2 months, 2-12 months, 12-36 months). Results: In children with symptomatic and asymptomatic infection, CMV DNA levels were not different between children with hearing deficit and those with normal hearing in all 3 age groups. In children with asymptomatic infection, the positive predictive value of a peripheral blood viral load <3500 genomic equivalents per milliliter (ge/mL) at >2 months and 2 to 12 months of age is 8%, and at 12 to 36 months of age is 11.8%. However, the negative predictive value of a viral load >3500 ge/mL is 94.4% at >2 months of age, and 100% at 2 to 36 months of age. Conclusions: Peripheral blood viral load is not associated with hearing loss in children with congenital CMV infection. However, a viral load of >3500 ge/mL is associated with a lower risk of hearing loss in children born with asymptomatic congenital infection. © 2012 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
