CMV DNA prevalence in umbilical cord blood and risk factors involved in the transmission
Molecular analysis of cord blood samples was performed. A total of 496 cord blood samples were analyzed, and the molecular prevalence of CMV DNA was 3.6%. Except for a single case, all the remaining positive cord blood samples were not associated with CMV DNA positive placentas after analysis by PCR reaction. Table III demonstrates the bivariate and multivariate analysis for the evaluated risk factors.
Table III.
Risk factors such as skin color, income, previous abortion history and age onset of sexual intercourse, which were apparently associated with cord blood infection in bivariate analysis were also submitted to multivariate analysis aiming to indentify independent factors. White skin color (self reported) and age at onset of sexual intercourse higher than sixteen years old remained as factors providing protection against CMV vertical transmission as shown in Table IV (p=0.04).
Table IV.