Can CMV be the cause of echogenic fetal bowel?

Question

Hello doctor,

At my 17 week ultrasound, the baby had an echogenic bowel. I was offered for level two ultrasound on the same day. Other than echogenic bowel, I had a normal scan. After that, I was suggested for the quadruple test, which came back low risk (1:2226). At my 19 week ultrasound, echogenic bowel was still present but not that much bright seen than the 17th-week scan. So, we were referred for genetic counseling. Genetic counselor also performed a detailed scan and told that everything was normal but there was mild echogenic bowel present. She told that due to an infection that it may happen. So I had a TORCH test. In that result, everything was within normal range except CMV IgG. My CMV IgG was 83.7. Will this CMV cause echogenic bowel in the baby? WIll it affect the baby's health? I am very much worried about this result. So I did amniocentesis this week. The result has not yet come. Will amniocentesis identify the infection in the baby?

Please explain.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

You have undergone level two ultrasound twice by radiologist and geneticists. So, you need not worry. Your triple marker report shows low risk which means there is 99.99 percent no problem. The TORCH (toxoplasmosis, other infections, rubella, cytomegalovirus, and herpes simplex) test shows CMV (cytomegalovirus) IgG (immunoglobulin G) positive. It is of no significance as it indicates a past infection before pregnancy and you have already gained immunity against that so it is not the cause for any infection. Amniocentesis you have already done it. You can request the generic counselor for karyotype of the sample taken. It will rule out any chromosomal anomaly. It takes nearly three weeks for karyotype report to come.