[Necrotizing enterocolitis and cytomegalovirus infection (author's transl)]

Abstract

During an 18-month period, 11 cases of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) were diagnosed in infants treated in Neonate Department. This represents 1% of total admissions. Six cases occurred during hospitalization. Clinically, the disease took three different forms: surgical form, medical form responding well to exclusive parenteral feeding and isolated haemorrhagic form, which deserves discussion. Seven of these infants had cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection. NEC accounted for 22% of clinical symptoms in CMV infection. These data suggest that the cytomegalovirus may act as aggravating factor in NEC.