title: Transfusion-associated cytomegalovirus infections in seropositive cardiac surgery patients.
abstract: To determine whether reinfection with an exogenous strain of cytomegalovirus (CMV) or reactivation of endogenous CMV is responsible for post-transfusion CMV infections in patients previously infected with the virus, seropositive patients were randomised preoperatively to receive red blood-cells (RBCs) from CMV seronegative donors (group A) or from random donors (group B). Each group B patient received at least one seropositive unit. 5 of 46 group A patients and 7 of 48 group B patients had a four-fold or greater increase of IgG antibody to CMV eight to twelve weeks postoperatively. IgG antibody titre did not increase in a third group (group C) of 57 seropositive patients who received no RBCs. 10 of the 12 patients with increased IgG titres also had CMV-specific IgM antibody after transfusion. These results indicate that reactivation accounts for most post-transfusion CMV infections in seropositive adults.
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Adler
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Baggett
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McVoy
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D017707:Erythrocyte Transfusion; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012698:Serologic Tests; D014775:Virus Activation
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M