Neuroimaging Findings in Normocephalic Newborns with Intrauterine Zika Virus Exposure

Publication date: Available online 19 October 2017
Source:Pediatric Neurology
Author(s): Sarah B. Mulkey, Gilbert Vezina, Dorothy I. Bulas, Zarir Khademian, Anna Blask, Youssef Kousa, Caitlin Cristante, Lindsay Pesacreta, Adre J. du Plessis, Roberta L. DeBiasi
BackgroundCongenital Zika infection can result in a spectrum of neurologic abnormalities in the newborn. Newborns exposed to Zika virus in utero have neuroimaging as part of their clinical evaluation.MethodsThrough a Congenital Zika Program at Children's National Health System in Washington D.C., we performed fetal and/or neonatal neuroimaging, including magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound on over 70 fetuses and/or neonates with intrauterine Zika exposure. Novel findings on neonatal brain magnetic resonance imaging were described in two cases. Results: Gadolinium-contrast magnetic resonance imaging showed enhancement of multiple cranial nerves at three days of age on one infant. Another infant had magnetic resonance imaging at sixteen days of age and found chronic ischemic cerebral infarction. This infant had previously normal fetal magnetic resonance imaging.ConclusionCranial nerve enhancement and cerebral infarction may be among the expanding list of neurologic findings in congenital Zika infection. Postnatal brain MRI should be considered for newborns exposed to Zika virus in utero.



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