Antibody response to cytomegalovirus: a comparison between adult patients with neurological disease and uncomplicated infection.
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in adults can cause neurological diseases such as the Guillain--Barré syndrome (GBS) and myelitis. The mechanism leading to the development of neurological damage is, however, still unknown. We have investigated the possibility that an abnormal humoral immune response, either weak or hyperactive, could be the cause. The antibody response of four patients with a primary CMV followed by neurological symptoms was compared to that of four age-matched controls with an uncomplicated infection. IgG and IgM antibodies to CMV early antigens (EA), late antigens (LA), and IgG antibodies to CMV immediate early antigens (IEA) were measured in consecutive serum samples. Comparison of titers indicated a longer time lapse between the onset of CMV infection and the development of symptoms in the group with neurological disease. We found no conclusive evidence of an abnormal humoral immune response to CMV in the patients with neurological disease compared to the patients with an uncomplicated infection.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D000917:Antibody Formation; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D003168:Complement Fixation Tests; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000276:immunology*; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis; D007158:Immunologic Techniques; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011129:Polyradiculoneuropathy / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M