title: Rapid diagnosis of cytomegalovirus infection by in-situ hybridisation in liver grafts.
abstract: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a major cause of hepatic dysfunction after liver transplantation, but proof of infection and distinguishing CMV hepatitis from other causes of impaired liver function can be difficult. In-situ hybridisation for CMV-DNA in liver biopsy specimens was assessed in 25 liver graft recipients in whom CMV was suspected on clinical grounds. CMV-DNA was detected in all 10 patients with primary CMV infection, in whom a close correlation was found between the number of CMV-DNA-positive cells and both the number of cells containing viral inclusions identified by light microscopy and the clinical severity of disease. In contrast, CMV-DNA was not detected in patients with secondary CMV infection, or in those without evidence of CMV infection. In-situ hybridisation for CMV-DNA provides an accurate and rapid diagnosis of CMV infection, and allows specific antiviral therapy to be used earlier.
mesh_terms: D003168:Complement Fixation Tests; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000382:microbiology; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral