Randomized Controlled Trial of Valganciclovir for Cytomegalovirus Infected Hearing Impaired Infants

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) can be transmitted from the mother to the fetus and is a leading cause of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), which is a condition where the inner ear is unable to convert sound into nerve impulses to the brain. This hearing loss and its detrimental effect on language development contribute nearly $4 billion annually to the health care costs in the U.S. Unlike other types of SNHL, CMV induced hearing loss can be treated. Several clinical trials have demonstrated that antiviral therapy may prevent progressive hearing loss if administered early in life for severely affected (symptomatic CMV) infants. These promising findings have given rise to a debate regarding the best method for identifying and treating the more numerous asymptomatic CMV-infected infants.

One approach is to conduct universal newborn hearing screens, and then do CMV diagnostic testing only on the infants who fail the hearing screen. This targeted approach should identify those infants at greatest risk of developing progressive hearing loss and consequent communicative difficulties. Utah is the first state to mandate this approach whereby infants under three weeks of age who fail their newborn hearing screening undergo CMV testing. In this trial, the hearing screen targeted approach will be used to identify patients eligible for participation in a double blind placebo controlled randomized clinical trial of antiviral valganciclovir therapy. The results of this trial will inform public policy, potentially shift our current clinical practice regarding pediatric hearing loss evaluation, and potentially offer a therapeutic option to asymptomatic CMV-infected infants with SNHL.

Inclusion criteria

• Age greater than or equal to 1 month and less than or equal to 12 months at the time of randomization; AND
• Positive congenital CMV by urine culture or polymerase chain reaction test(PCR), OR saliva culture or PCR followed by confirmatory urine PCR by 21 days of age, OR urine culture or PCR after 21 days of age followed by newborn dry blood spot PCR; AND
• Confirmed sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) by auditory brainstem response (ABR) testing. For ABR assessments, hearing loss is defined as levels greater than 25 dB normal hearing levels (NHL) at 1, 2, or 4 kHz in one or both ears.

Exclusion criteria

• Imminent demise; OR
• Known hypersensitivity reaction to valganciclovir, ganciclovir, or any components of the investigational product formulation; OR
• ALT (Alanine Aminotransferase) five times baseline U/L, hepatomegaly, or significant gastrointestinal disorders (e.g., eosinophilic esophagitis, ulcerative colitis); OR
• Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) less than 500 cells/mm^3, Hemoglobin less than 8 g/dL, or platelets less than 50,000/mm^3, splenomegaly, or significant hematologic disorders (e.g., hemophilia, leukemia, sickle cell anemia); OR
• Creatinine clearance less than 60 mL/min/1.73m^2 or significant renal disorders (e.g., nephrotic syndrome); OR
• Receiving other antiviral medications or immune globulin therapy; OR
• Receiving other investigational drugs; OR
• Breast feeding from a mother receiving antiviral or immunosuppressive medication; OR
• Known HIV positive mother (risk of immunosuppression); OR
• Subject is currently using list of prohibited medication specified by the package insert; OR
• Other known cause contributing to SNHL (e.g., meningitis, aminoglycoside ototoxicity); OR
• Bilateral profound SNHL or auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder; OR
• Existing conductive hearing loss or mixed permanent hearing loss is present; OR
• Evidence of intracranial calcification; OR
• Evidence of hydrocephalus; OR
• Microcephaly; OR
• Presence of petechiae; OR
• Intrauterine growth retardation; OR
• Chorioretinitis, optic atrophy or pale optic nerves; OR
• Parent or guardian unable to speak English or Spanish; OR
• Subject exposed to a language other than English or Spanish a majority of the time; OR
• Subject unable to complete hearing assessments or parent/guardian unable to complete communication questionnaires; OR
• < 32 weeks gestational age at birth; OR
• Weight at the time of birth < 1800 g.