Potencial evocado auditivo de tronco encefálico em lactentes com citomegalovírus congênito: resultados preliminares de um estudo de caso-controle

Abstract

Introduction: Congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) is currently the congenital infection identified as the primary risk indicator for sensorineural hearing loss. It is therefore recommended that babies diagnosed positive for cCMV perform audiologic monitoring throughout the early years of life. Concerning pediatric audiologic diagnosis, Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potentials (ABR) are considered the gold standard. Objective: The objective of this study was to compare the neurophysiological integrity of the brainstem auditory pathway in a series of clinical cases of infants with congenital cytomegalovirus, matched with infants without cCMV and other risk indicators for hearing impairment (IRDA). Methodology: This is a case-control, observational and comparative study. This study targeted babies born in public maternity hospitals in the Metropolitan Region of Natal (RN). Infants with a positive PCR for cCMV were referred by the pediatric infectious disease specialist. The sample consisted of eight infants in the cCMV group without others IRDA matched with eight infants without cCMV or others IRDA, based on sex, age, and maternal education. All the babies included in the study had Transient Evoked Otoacoustic Emissions (TEOAE) present bilaterally. ABR were performed with a click stimulus at an intensity of 80 dB nNA and the latency and amplitude values of waves I, III and V were analyzed, as well as interpeak intervals I-III, III-V and I-V. Statistical analysis involved comparing groups for the studied variables using the Mann-Whitney test, with a significance level of 5%. Results: In the comparison between groups, no statistically significant differences were observed in the absolute latency and amplitude of waves I, III and V, as well as in the interpeak intervals I-III, III-V and I-V. Conclusion: These preliminary results indicate no impairment of the auditory pathways at brainstem level in babies with congenital cytomegalovirus.