title: Cytomegalovirus DNA level on biopsy specimens during treatment of cytomegalovirus gastrointestinal disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There is no clear and point for the response to treatment of gastrointestinal human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) disease. HCMV-DNA quantitation on gastrointestinal biopsy specimens has proven its value for the diagnosis of gastrointestinal HCMV disease in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The aim was to study HCMV-DNA levels on gastrointestinal biopsy specimens during the treatment of gastrointestinal HCMV disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  HCMV-DATA quantitation was performed using two different polymerase chain reaction assays on 90 biopsy specimens obtained before anti-HCMV therapy, during the induction phase, or during maintenance therapy for gastrointestinal HCMV disease in 21 patients with AIDS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HCMV-DNA was detected on all the biopsy specimens ranging from 9 to > or = 80,000 Eq/0.1 microgram DNA. Pretherapeutic mean level was 69,000 +/- 27,000 Eq/0.1 microgram DNA. Induction therapy was followed by a mean decrease of 1.7 +/- 1.3 log10 Eq/0.1 microgram DNA. HCMV-DNA levels decreased during induction therapy to < 1000 Eq/0.1 microgram DNA in 60% of patients but remained > 80,000 Eq/0.1 microgram DNA in 20% of patients. Relapse occurred in all the patients in a mean time of 100 days. HCMV-DNA level at the end of the induction phase seems to influence the time to relapse.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Quantitation of HCMV-DNA on gastrointestinal biopsy specimens seems to be useful for monitoring gastrointestinal HCMV disease in patients with AIDS.
authors.affiliation: Hepatogastroenterology and AIDS Unit, Hotel-Dieu, Lyon, France.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cotte
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Drouet
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bailly
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vitozzi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Denoyel
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Trepo
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications; D000328:Adult; D001483:Base Sequence; D001706:Biopsy; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000235:genetics*; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D004064:Digestive System / Q000821:virology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012008:Recurrence
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral