Neurotropic viruses and cerebral palsy: population based case-control study

doi:10.1136/bmj.38668.616806.3A

BMJ 2006;332:76-80 (14 January), doi:10.1136/bmj.38668.616806.3A (published 6 January 2006)

Research

Neurotropic viruses and cerebral palsy: population based case-control study

Catherine S Gibson, postdoctoral research fellow, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology¹, Alastair H MacLennan, professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology¹, Paul N Goldwater, senior consultant clinical microbiologist, Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases¹, Eric A Haan, clinical geneticist, Department of Genetic Medicine¹, Kevin Priest, epidemiologist², Gustaaf A Dekker, professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology¹, South Australian Cerebral Palsy Research Group

¹ University of Adelaide, Women's and Children's Hospital, 1st Floor Queen Victoria Building, 72 King William Road, Adelaide, SA 5006, Australia, ² Epidemiology Branch, Department of Health, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia

Correspondence to: C S Gibson catherine.s.gibson{at}adelaide.edu.au

Abstract

Objective To investigate the association between cerebral palsyand direct evidence for perinatal exposure to neurotropic viruses.

Design Population based case-control study.

Setting Adelaide Women's and Children's Hospital Research Laboratory.

Participants and main outcome measures Newborn screening cardsof 443 white case patients with cerebral palsy and 883 whitecontrols were tested for viral nucleic acids from enterovirusesand herpes viruses by using polymerase chain reaction. Herpesgroup A viruses included herpes simplex viruses 1 and 2 (HSV-1and HSV-2), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), cytomegalovirus (CMV),and human herpes virus 8 (HHV-8), and herpes group B virusesincluded varicella zoster virus (VZV) and human herpes viruses6 and 7 (HHV-6 and HHV-7).

Results The prevalence of viral nucleic acids in the controlpopulation was high: 39.8% of controls tested positive, andthe prevalence was highest in preterm babies. The detectionof herpes group B viral nucleic acids increased the risk ofdeveloping cerebral palsy (odds ratio 1.68, 95% confidence interval1.09 to 2.59).

Conclusions Perinatal exposure to neurotropic viruses is associatedwith preterm delivery and cerebral palsy.

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Rapid Responses:

Read all Rapid Responses

Which herpes virus is to blame?: Marian J. Nicholson
bmj.com, 13 Jan 2006 [Full text]
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bmj.com, 15 Jan 2006 [Full text]
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bmj.com, 24 Feb 2006 [Full text]