Cytomegalovirus-Induced Mirror Syndrome Associated With Elevated Levels of Circulating Antiangiogenic Factors

Abstract

We describe a case where Mirror syndrome was characterized by altered levels of antiangiogenic proteins (soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 [sFlt1] and soluble endoglin). We describe a pregnant patient with severe fetal and placental edema induced by congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection that was associated with preeclampsia. Fetal CMV was confirmed histologically, whereas antiangiogenic factors were demonstrated to be elevated in maternal but not fetal blood. The levels of sFlt1 and soluble endoglin in our patient's serum before delivery were 116.5 ng/mL (normal pregnancy 19.3 ng/mL and preeclampsia 66.0 ng/mL, representing mean values before delivery) and 107.4 ng/mL (normal pregnancy 18.7 ng/mL and preeclampsia 52.6 ng/mL, representing mean values before delivery), respectively. In contrast, the values of sFlt1 and soluble endoglin in the cord blood were relatively low at 2.1 ng/mL and 8.2 ng/mL, respectively. If this observation is confirmed, CMV infection may be cited as a cause of Mirror syndrome and preeclampsia phenotypes associated with this disorder may be related to increased circulating antiangiogenic factors.