Improvement in diagnostic techniques has led to enhanced understanding of the etiology of neonatal hepatitis including cytomegaloviruses. This report presents the conclusions of a three-year study of all cases in which either viral hepatitis or cytomegalic inclusion disease was suspected. In 23 of 43 cases of cytomegalovirus infection, confirmed by detection of the virus and increase in serum antibody activity, the disease was congenital. Of the 23 cases of congenital cytomegalic inclusion disease, 17 showed hepatomegaly, 10 had splenomegaly, and 6 showed jaundice (Figure).
A good correlation between hepatomegaly and increase in hepatic enzyme levels, especially serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) is apparent. Hepatomegaly was proportional to the increase in pyruvic transaminase in all but two patients. We made biochemical tests in six cases; they were not done in the Neonatal cytomegalic inclusion disease. Correlation between hepatomegaly and SGPT value. others for technical reasons. The increase in direct serum bilirubin