title: Quantitation of cytomegalovirus in the blood of liver transplant recipients.
abstract: An assay for quantitation of cytomegalovirus (CMV) has been developed. The assay combines DNA amplification and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) detection. In this study, the assay has been used to examine sequential buffy-coats from 32 consecutive liver transplant recipients. In a febrile patient, CMV titres in excess of 10(4) copies per 150,000 cells strongly suggest a diagnosis of symptomatic CMV infection. Antiviral therapy causes a rapid decline in viral titre. Viral titres are seen to rise presymptomatically in some patients. Median peak viral titres differ significantly between symptomatic patients (1.1 x 10(5)), asymptomatic CMV IgM-positive patients (1.7 x 10(3)), and asymptomatic CMV immunoglobulin (Ig)M-negative patients (2.9 x 10(2)). CMV quantitation can be used for diagnosis and surveillance and can also be used to monitor antiviral treatment.
authors.affiliation: Queen Elizabeth Hospital Liver Unit, Edgbaston, Birmingham, England.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mutimer
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Matyi-Toth
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Elias
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: O'Donnell
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kilgariff
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Neuberger
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gunson
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: McMaster
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stalhandske
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000276:immunology; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014766:Viremia / Q000821:virology*
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents