Human cytomegalovirus immediate-early messenger RNA in blood of pregnant women with primary infection and of congenitally infected newborns.
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.
Revello
M G
MG
Servizio di Virologia, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Policlinico San Matteo, 27100 Pavia, Italy. mg.revello@smatteo.pv.it
Lilleri
D
D
Zavattoni
M
M
Stronati
M
M
Bollani
L
L
Middeldorp
J M
JM
Gerna
G
G
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
D004279:DNA, Viral; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012367:RNA, Viral