Prediction of severe disseminated adenovirus infection by serum PCR.
Adenoviruses are increasingly recognised as viral pathogens that can cause fatal infections in immunocompromised patients, particularly recipients of haematopoietic stem-cell grafts. Adenovirus infections are not easily diagnosed and the development of a severe infection cannot be predicted by standard culture techniques. In a pilot study, we investigated the value of adenovirus DNA detection in serum as a marker of disseminated disease in 14 patients with defined patterns of adenovirus infections. The results show that the appearance of adenoviral DNA in serum preceded the development of a severe or fatal adenovirus infection. Because proper management is dependent on early diagnosis and differentiation from other conditions, this test may be a valuable tool in the management of adenovirus infection.
Echavarria
M
M
Forman
M
M
van Tol
M J
MJ
Vossen
J M
JM
Charache
P
P
Kroes
A C
AC
D000258:Adenovirus Infections, Human / Q000175:diagnosis*; D000260:Adenoviruses, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests
D004279:DNA, Viral