Several risk factors associated with ophthalmologic findings in infants with presumed Zika virus

Infants presumed to have the Zika virus who had smaller cephalic perimeters at birth and whose mothers reported virus symptoms in the first trimester of pregnancy were more likely to have fundus abnormalities, according to a study.

Researchers tested the cerebrospinal fluid of 24 of 40 infants with microcephaly for the Zika virus (ZIKV) in a cross-sectional study conducted in Brazil; all 24 were found to have positive results for ZIKV infection. Fourteen of 22 infants with ophthalmoscopic findings and 10 of 18 infants without ophthalmoscopic findings were positive for the virus.

Ten mothers of infants with ocular findings reported experiencing ZIKV symptoms such as rash, fever, headache and arthralgia during the first trimester of their pregnancy.

Additionally, 37 eyes of 22 infants featured fundus alterations.

“When subdividing all infants based on the presence or absence of fundus alterations, both groups were compared for the demographic and pregnancy history variables; the small cephalic perimeter at birth was the only variable that was correlated significantly with the ophthalmoscopic findings,” the study authors said. – by Robert Linnehan

Disclosure: The authors report no relevant financial disclosures.

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Source:

Ventura CV, et al. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2016;doi:10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2016.1784.