title: The role of immune reconstitution in cytomegalovirus infection.
abstract: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) causes high morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients. The host immune response to CMV comprises specific and nonspecific cellular and humoral responses, but current knowledge supports a protective role only for cell-mediated immune responses. Although complete CMV eradication is unusual even in immunocompetent hosts, its morbidity can be limited by CMV-specific CD8+ cytotoxic lymphocytes supported by CD4+-mediated T lymphocyte helper activity. In patients with congenital or acquired deficiencies of cell-mediated immunity, recovery of CD4+ lymphocyte numbers and/or function coincides with cessation of CMV-associated morbidity. However, an immunological test that can predict protection against CMV disease across different types of high-risk patients is not yet available. In recent years, the introduction of antivirals active against CMV has improved the outcome of CMV disease. In addition, there is a continuous effort to develop CMV-specific immune-based therapies including vaccines and immune modulators such as cytokines, which may be of supplemental benefit in the control of CMV disease.
authors: Departments of Pediatrics and Medicine, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, 4200 East Ninth Avenue, Campus Box C227, Denver, CO 80262, USA. Adriana.Weinberg@uchsc.edu
authors: Adriana
authors: A
authors: Weinberg
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019264:Adoptive Transfer; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; C045781:cytomegalovirus-specific hyperimmune globulin