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.