Treatments

For pregnant women and high-risk patients, powerful antiviral drugs can help stop any adverse affects of CMV infection. Many times, CMV treatments will not reverse the damage that has already taken place, but it can help prevent the damage from worsening. CMV treatment should be administered by a medical specialist on a case-by-case basis only.

If you are a pregnant woman who has been diagnosed with CMV or have a newborn who has been diagnosed with congenital CMV, Stop CMV can connect you with doctors who can provide more information about treatments that may help. For more information, contact treatment@stopcmv.org.

Treatment Recommendations

Pregnant Women

Recent studies suggest that CMV hyperimmune globulin (IVIG) treatment may reduce the risk of congenital infection and disease when given to pregnant women experiencing a primary CMV infection. Keep in mind that once the baby has been infected in utero, IVIG treatment is not necessarily effective. However, if a mother has a primary infection and is treated, IVIG treatment can prevent transmission to the baby.

If you are pregnant and have been diagnosed with CMV, Stop CMV can connect you with doctors who can provide more information on treatments. For more information, contact treatment@stopcmv.org.

Newborns

Ganciclovir and Valganciclovir are antiviral treatments that may be beneficial to a newborn with symptomatic congenital CMV. Ganciclovir and Valganciclovir may prevent hearing loss and improve head and brain growth. They can also help combat immediate medical concerns caused by CMV, such as thrombocytopenia (low platelets), organ failure (most commonly spleen and/or liver), hepatitis, and pneumonitis. Treatments generally last from 6 weeks to 6 months and are administered orally or through an IV or PICC line.

Ganciclovir and valganciclovir can have serious side effects and parents should consult with a doctor before beginning treatment. Children receiving these treatments should have regular blood counts to avoid problems with severe neutropenia (low white blood cells) or anemia (low red blood cells).

If you have a newborn recently diagnosed with congenital CMV, Stop CMV can help connect you with a local doctor who can provide more information on these treatments.For more information, contact treatment@stopcmv.org.