title: Significance of qualitative polymerase chain reaction combined with quantitation of viral load in the diagnosis and follow-up of cytomegalovirus infection after solid-organ transplantation.
abstract: Quantitative PCR was evaluated in the monitoring of patients with ongoing posttransplantation cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and antiviral therapy, compared to leukoDNAemia and serology. From January 1998 until May 1999, 61 patients were followed up weekly during 3 months after transplantation by a qualitative PCR. The quantitative PCR was performed on plasma samples from 21 selected patients, of whom 12 had a primary infection and 9 a reactivation or reinfection. Analysis of the viral load differences showed that the viral loads in patients with a primary infection were significantly higher than viral loads in patients with a reactivation (p < 0.01). Based on the results of our study, we can state that qualitative PCR is a good marker for initiating preemptive therapy. In addition, viral quantitation is clinically useful for accurate diagnosis of established CMV disease, and monitoring of antiviral therapy.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory Virology, University Hospital, Gent, Belgium.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Vanpoucke
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Van Vlem
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vanholder
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Van Renterghem
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology*; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016377:Organ Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral