Congenital Hydrocephalus: Role of Transplacental Myxovirus Infection

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  • Congenital Hydrocephalus Role of Transp

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Abstract

ABSTRACT The definite etiology in most cases of congenital hydrocephalus still remains unknown. Many studies have been reported on the experimental hydrocephalus induced by viral infection other than TORCH (Toxoplasma, Other agents, Rubella virus, Cytomegalovirus and Herpes simplex type 1 and 2 viruses). Above all mumps virus induces a high frequency of hydrocephalus. Several pediatric cases of hydrocephalus after mumps virus infection have been reported. These cases are thought to be caused by ependymitis due to mumps virus infection. Clinical cases of congenital hydrocephalus possibly caused by intrauterine mumps or influenza virus infection are also accumulating. The definitive evidence of a teratogenic potential for mumps and influenza virus, however, has been obscure yet. Our experimental studies demonstrated that mumps and parainfluenza virus type 3 could induce hydrocephalus by destructive ependymal infection in suckling hamsters. However, the transplacental infection of these viruses was rare. These results show that myxoviruses such as mumps and parainfluenza virus have a strong affinity to ependy- ma1 cells, and then they cause resultant ependymal destruction. We suggest that when the placenta is impaired so severely that these viruses are able to pass through the placental barrier, maternal infection would cause the hydrocephalus to the infant.

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