Neurodevelopmental outcome in children with congenital cytomegalovirus infection: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol
4 affiliations
- 1Division of Neonatology, Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
- 2Department of Humanities, University of Naples Federico II, Via Porta di Massa 1, Naples, 80133 Italy
- 3Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
- 4Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, Netherlands
Abstract
Background: Congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) infection is the most common cause of congenital infection worldwide. Neurodevelopmental sequelae have been reported in children with cCMV across different developmental stages, from infancy to adolescence. However, the evidence on the involved neurodevelopmental domains and the severity of adverse outcome remains unclear and not well defined. This protocol describes a systematic review and meta-analysis aimed at evaluating neurodevelopmental outcome in children with cCMV aged 18 years old or below and identifying predictors associated with adverse neurodevelopmental trajectories.
Methods: This systematic review and meta-analysis protocol will be conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols (PRISMA-P) guidelines. The final systematic review and meta-analysis will be conducted and reported according to the PRISMA statement. Electronic searches will be performed in Embase (via Ovid), MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Scopus without publication date restrictions. Studies evaluating neurodevelopmental outcomes in children with cCMV infection, classified as symptomatic or asymptomatic at birth, assessed through standardized neurodevelopmental tests, will be included. Studies investigating predictors of neurodevelopmental impairment and additional clinical characteristics associated with cCMV infection will also be considered. Study selection and data extraction will be performed independently by two reviewers. Any disagreements will be resolved through discussion and consensus; if consensus cannot be reached, a third reviewer will be consulted for arbitration. Quantitative synthesis will include pooled effect sizes, heterogeneity assessment, subgroup analyses, and publication bias evaluation.
Discussion: This research will provide a comprehensive overview of neurodevelopmental outcomes in children with symptomatic and asymptomatic cCMV infection. The findings may support the implementation of structured neurodevelopmental follow-up programmes and early targeted interventions aimed at optimizing children’s neurodevelopmental outcomes.
Systematic review registration: PROSPERO registration number CRD420251065006. Date of registration 03 June 2025.
Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-026-03288-6.
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BibTeX
@article{salome2026neurodevelopmental,
title = {{Neurodevelopmental outcome in children with congenital cytomegalovirus infection: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol}},
author = {Serena Salomè and Carmine Vincenzo Lambiase and Giacomo Cavallaro and Eduardo Villamor and Francesco Raimondi},
journal = {Systematic Reviews},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.1186/s13643-026-03288-6},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-026-03288-6},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Neurodevelopmental outcome in children with congenital cytomegalovirus infection: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol
AU - Serena Salomè
AU - Carmine Vincenzo Lambiase
AU - Giacomo Cavallaro
AU - Eduardo Villamor
AU - Francesco Raimondi
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/08
JO - Systematic Reviews
DO - 10.1186/s13643-026-03288-6
UR - https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-026-03288-6
AB - Background: Congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) infection is the most common cause of congenital infection worldwide. Neurodevelopmental sequelae have been reported in children with cCMV across different developmental stages, from infancy to adolescence. However, the evidence on the involved neurodevelopmental domains and the severity of adverse outcome remains unclear and not well defined. This protocol describes a systematic review and meta-analysis aimed at evaluating neurodevelopmental outcome in children with cCMV aged 18 years old or below and identifying predictors associated with adverse neurodevelopmental trajectories. Methods: This systematic review and meta-analysis protocol will be conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols (PRISMA-P) guidelines. The final systematic review and meta-analysis will be conducted and reported according to the PRISMA statement. Electronic searches will be performed in Embase (via Ovid), MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Scopus without publication date restrictions. Studies evaluating neurodevelopmental outcomes in children with cCMV infection, classified as symptomatic or asymptomatic at birth, assessed through standardized neurodevelopmental tests, will be included. Studies investigating predictors of neurodevelopmental impairment and additional clinical characteristics associated with cCMV infection will also be considered. Study selection and data extraction will be performed independently by two reviewers. Any disagreements will be resolved through discussion and consensus; if consensus cannot be reached, a third reviewer will be consulted for arbitration. Quantitative synthesis will include pooled effect sizes, heterogeneity assessment, subgroup analyses, and publication bias evaluation. Discussion: This research will provide a comprehensive overview of neurodevelopmental outcomes in children with symptomatic and asymptomatic cCMV infection. The findings may support the implementation of structured neurodevelopmental follow-up programmes and early targeted interventions aimed at optimizing children’s neurodevelopmental outcomes. Systematic review registration: PROSPERO registration number CRD420251065006. Date of registration 03 June 2025. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-026-03288-6.
SN - 2046-4053
ER -