[Detection of human cytomegalovirus infection in pregnant women and their fetuses by nested polymerase chain reaction].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the applicability of nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction endonucleases analyses (REA) for the diagnosis of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) in pregnant women and their fetuses.


METHODS
Nested PCR and REA, virus isolation, anti-HCMV-IgM and anti-HCMV-IgA were used for detection of HCMV in peripheral blood of pregnant women, umbilical blood and tissues of stillbirths.


RESULTS
Among 367 pregnant women, the HCMV infections rate in the first, second and third trimester of gestation were 8.6%, 1.6% and 7.0%, respectively. The nested PCR had significantly higher detective rate (4.9%) than that of virus isolation (3.0%, P < 0.025). Among 6 samples of maternal HCMV DNA positive blood, 3 matched umbilical samples were HCMV DNA positive as well. Of these 3 cases, HCMV intrauterine infection was considered. HCMV was detected with all measurements in both maternal and umbilical blood except in 1 paired samples specific-IgM were negative. HCMV DNA was found in the lung tissue of one of the 28 stillbirds.


CONCLUSIONS
The diagnostic specificity and sensitivity of HCMV can be raised by nested PCR.
Shang
S
S
Children's Hospital of Zhejiang Medical University, Hangzhou.
Hong
W
W
Shi
Y
Y
D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000635:transmission; D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000821:virology*; D000091402:Prohibitins
C000717331:PHB2 protein, human; D000091402:Prohibitins; D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes