[Serologic and cytochemical examinations for surveillance of cytomegalovirus infection and reactivation after hematopoietic cell transplantation].
UNLABELLED
208 patients and 1327 blood/platelet donors were monitored for the presence of CMV antibodies. Serological tests were used for the detection of IgM and IgG CMV antibodies and cytochemistry (APAAP) for CMV antigens detection.


RESULTS
1) In haematological patients and in blood/platelet donors proportions of IgG CMV antibodies were similar (about 75%). 2) The presence of IgM-CMV antibodies was significantly more frequent in patients than in donors group (4/208 vs 4/1327, p = 0.0025). 3) CMV early and immediate early antigens (p52, Ad169) were detected in 31 patients. CMV antigenemia occurred in 11/31 patients and were found between 13 and 78 days after BMT. In 11 patients a number of CMV + cells ranged from 12 to 11,500/10(5) (median values 25 positive cells/10(5)). Patients receiving anti thymocyte serum (13/31) were on Ganciclovir pre-emptive treatment. CMV antigenemia positive patients were in similar proportions in the groups receiving and lacking ATG (ATG is a risk factor of CMV reactivation) as a part of conditioning regimen. In addition median value of CMV positive leukocytes was lower in ATG receiving patients than patients lacking ATG. This was likely due to the effective Ganciclovir pre-emptive treatment offered to all patients on ATG.