Publications
The effect of (val)ganciclovir on hearing in congenital cytomegalovirus : a systematic review Ghent University
Six weeks of strength endurance training decreases circulating senescence-prone T-lymphocytes in cytomegalovirus seropositive but not seronegative older women Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Background: Ageing is associated with a decline in immune function termed immunosenescence. This process is characterized amongst others by less naive T-cells and more senescent phenotypes, which have been implicated in the pathogenesis of many age-related diseases. Thus far, reports regarding the long-term adaptation effects of exercise on T-cell phenotypes are scant and largely equivocal. These inconsistencies may be due to potential ...
Primary maternal cytomegalovirus infections: accuracy of fetal ultrasound to predict sequelae in offspring Reply Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Prospective multicenter comparison of urine culture with PCR on dried blood spots using 2 different extraction and PCR methods in neonates suspected for congenital cytomegalovirus infection Institute of Tropical Medicine Ghent University KU Leuven University of Antwerp
To evaluate the potential of dried blood spots (DBS) as a congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) testing specimen, the laboratory diagnostic accuracy of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on DBS was compared to viral urine cultures from neonates suspected for cCMV. Two different extraction methods (EasyMAG, bioMerieux versus Qiagen) and 2 real-time PCR protocols (in-house versus Argene) were compared. We were able to collect both DBS and urine ...
The seroprevalence of cytomegalovirus infection in Belgium anno 2002 and 2006: a comparative analysis with hepatitis A virus seroprevalence Institute of Tropical Medicine Ghent University Hasselt University University of Antwerp
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is endemic worldwide but its seroprevalence varies widely. The goal of this study was to estimate the age-specific seroprevalence of CMV infection in Belgium based on two cross-sectional serological datasets from 2002 and 2006. The seroprevalence was estimated relying on diagnostic test results based on cut-off values pre-specified by the manufacturers of the tests as well as relying on mixture models applied ...
Public health impact of congenital toxoplasmosis and cytomegalovirus infection in Belgium, 2013 Institute of Tropical Medicine Hasselt University Ghent University University of Antwerp
Congenital toxoplasmosis (CT) and cytomegalovirus infection (cCMV) may cause significant morbidity and even fetal or neonatal mortality. We aimed to quantify the disease burden of CT and cCMV in Belgium in terms of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) and identify data gaps. The public health impact of CT and cCMV in Belgium in 2013 was 188 (95% uncertainty interval [UI], 43-419) and 1976 (95% UI, 757-4067) DALYs, respectively. The major ...
Hearing Loss With Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection Vrije Universiteit Brussel
OBJECTIVE: In this study, we determined the prevalence of hearing loss in 157 children with proven congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) infection. We looked at possible risk determinants for developing hearing loss and proposed recommendations for screening and follow-up in the newborn. METHODS: In a prospective 22-year study, 157 children with proven cCMV infection were evaluated for sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). The development of SNHL ...
Long-term impairment attributable to congenital cytomegalovirus infection: a retrospective cohort study Institute of Tropical Medicine
AIM: This study aimed to estimate long-term impairment attributable to congenital cytomegalovirus infection (cCMV).
METHOD: This nationwide cohort study retrospectively assessed cCMV in children born in 2008 in the Netherlands, testing 31 484 stored neonatal dried blood spots. Extensive medical data of cCMV-positive children (n=133) and matched cCMV-negative comparison children (n=274) up to 6 years of age were analysed.
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