title: Herpes virus infection prevalence in regular haemodialysis patients--a comparative evaluation of complement fixation, indirect immunofluorescence and Elisa tests.
abstract: The presence and titres of specific serum IgG and IgM antibodies to cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus and varicella-zoster virus were evaluated in 50 haemodialysis patients by complement fixation, immunofluorescence and Elisa tests. A second serum sample was tested in 24 patients after four weeks. Specific serum IgG antibodies to Epstein-Barr virus were also measured by immunofluorescence in 26 patients. By immunofluorescence and Elisa tests, the prevalence of cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus and Epstein-Barr virus infection is approximately 100 per cent, and varicella-zoster virus 60 per cent. High titres of IgG specific antibodies found by Elisa tests, detection of IgM antibodies in 16-18 per cent of patients and sero-conversion in 25 per cent of patients, suggests continuous antigenic stimulation.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Scolari
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Manca
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sandrini
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cristinelli
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Prati
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Setti
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Savoldi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Turano
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Maiorca
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003168:Complement Fixation Tests; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects*