title: Human cytomegalovirus immediate-early messenger RNA in blood of pregnant women with primary infection and of congenitally infected newborns.
abstract: Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) immediate-early messenger RNA (IEmRNA) in sequential blood samples from 32 pregnant women with primary infection and from 14 congenitally infected newborns was qualitatively investigated by nucleic acid sequence-based amplification. IEmRNA was detected in 100%, 75%, 36.3%, 22.2%, and 0% of samples collected 1, 2, 3, 4-6, and >6 months after onset of primary HCMV infection, respectively, showing 83.7% sensitivity and 92.2% specificity, compared with results of quantitative DNAemia (detection of viral DNA in blood). In infected newborns, IEmRNA was positive in 100% of samples collected 1-7 days (median, 1.5 days) and in 46.4% of samples collected 27-260 days (median, 88 days) after birth, showing 75.7% sensitivity and 100% specificity, compared with DNAemia results. IEmRNA was not detected in HCMV-immune individuals with remote or recurrent HCMV infection or in uninfected newborns. IEmRNA determination appears to be a valuable tool for early diagnosis of both primary and congenital HCMV infection.
authors.affiliation: Servizio di Virologia, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Policlinico San Matteo, 27100 Pavia, Italy. mg.revello@smatteo.pv.it
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Revello
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lilleri
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zavattoni
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stronati
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bollani
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Middeldorp
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gerna
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000635:transmission*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000097:blood / Q000821:virology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012367:RNA, Viral