Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39965551›Full record

ArticleFetal diagnosis and therapy2025

First-Trimester Universal One-Time Serology Screening for Cytomegalovirus: A Pilot Study at Two Tertiary Referral Centers in Barcelona (Catalunya, Spain).

Karen P Castillo, Laura Guirado, Alex Cahuana, María Angeles Marcos, Imma Mercadé, Elena Casals Font, Qiqi Liu, Clara Medina, Marta López, María Dolores Gómez-Roig and 2 more

Abstract readMulticenter Study
In one paragraph

Article in Fetal diagnosis and therapy, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Observational
  2. Review
  3. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Karen P CastilloBCNatal Fetal Medicine Research Center, Hospital Clínic and Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain, karen.castillo.v@hotmail.com.
Laura GuiradoBCNatal Fetal Medicine Research Center, Hospital Clínic and Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Alex CahuanaBCNatal Fetal Medicine Research Center, Hospital Clínic and Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
María Angeles MarcosDepartment of Clinical Microbiology, Hospital Clinic, Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Imma MercadéBiochemistry and Molecular Genetics Laboratory, CDB, Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, Spain.
Elena Casals FontBiochemistry and Molecular Genetics Laboratory, CDB, Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, Spain.
Qiqi LiuBCNatal Fetal Medicine Research Center, Hospital Clínic and Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Clara MedinaBCNatal Fetal Medicine Research Center, Hospital Clínic and Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Marta LópezBCNatal Fetal Medicine Research Center, Hospital Clínic and Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
María Dolores Gómez-RoigBCNatal Fetal Medicine Research Center, Hospital Clínic and Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Francesc FiguerasBCNatal Fetal Medicine Research Center, Hospital Clínic and Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Anna GoncéBCNatal Fetal Medicine Research Center, Hospital Clínic and Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionCongenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) is the main infectious cause of sensorineural hearing loss and neurodevelopmental disability. First-trimester and periconceptional period are the most vulnerable times for fetal injury. Universal serological cytomegalovirus (CMV) screening in pregnant women is not currently recommended. After a recent randomized controlled clinical trial that demonstrated a 70% reduction of vertical transmission with high-dose valacyclovir (VCV), a pilot first-trimester screening program was launched at our setting.

methodsThis epidemiological surveillance study was conducted at two tertiary hospitals in Barcelona. The primary outcome was to evaluate the results of the first 2 years of implementation of a universal first-trimester CMV screening program. The secondary outcome was to assess maternal seroprevalence, and the burden of primary infection during the fetal risk period in this population. IgG and IgM antibodies were determined in first-trimester pregnant women at the time of the combined test for aneuploidy. In those with positive IgG and IgM, IgG avidity was performed through a fast alert system. Low or intermediate avidity was considered as primary infection in the first-trimester or periconceptional period, and women were offered VCV up to the time of amniocentesis. Infected fetuses were followed-up according to our clinical protocol.

resultsFrom February 2021 to August 2023, 2,777 first-trimester pregnant women between 8+0 and 13+6 gestational weeks were screened. Maternal IgG seroprevalence was 70.6%. Among these, 22 (0.8%) had IgM antibodies, four with low or intermediate avidity, suggesting a recent primary infection, and they received oral VCV 2 g/6 h. Vertical transmission occurred in one with a delayed start of VCV treatment and the family opted for termination of pregnancy.

conclusionsUniversal first-trimester CMV screening is feasible. A high seroprevalence was observed in our population. Larger studies will confirm whether screening is cost-effective in our setting.

Indexed as

CytomegalovirusCytomegalovirus InfectionsPregnancy Complications, InfectiousPregnancy Trimester, FirstAdultAntibodies, ViralFemaleHumansImmunoglobulin MInfectious Disease Transmission, VerticalPilot ProjectsPregnancySeroepidemiologic StudiesSpainTertiary Care CentersYoung AdultAntibodies, ViralImmunoglobulin MCongenitalCytomegalovirusScreeningSeroprevalenceValacyclovir

Identifiers

PMID39965551
PMCPMC12324760

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.