CMV and blood transfusions.
Among the human herpesviruses, cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the only one that has assumed significant importance in blood transfusion. Transfusion transmission of CMV (TT-CMV) to seronegative immunocompromised patients can lead to lethal CMV disease. Studies over the past 30 years have demonstrated that monocytes latently infected with CMV represent the primary vector for TT-CMV, and that TT-CMV can be largely abrogated by transfusing at-risk patients with either seronegative units or blood filtered to remove white blood cells. However, the small number of cases of breakthrough TT-CMV that follow transfusion of either seronegative or filtered blood still produce morbidity and mortality. These circumstances have motivated ongoing efforts to provide improved protection from TT-CMV, including the use of CMV DNA amplification for blood screening, and pathogen inactivation to sterilise all blood components prior to transfusion.
Roback
John D
JD
Transfusion Medicine Program, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, WMB 2307, 1639 Pierce Drive, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA. jroback@emory.edu
D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D004203:Disinfection / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011247:Pregnancy; D012307:Risk Factors; D065227:Transfusion Reaction
D004279:DNA, Viral