Incidence of cytomegalovirus reactivation in patients with inflammatory connective tissue diseases who are under immunosuppressive therapy.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the incidence and effect of cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation in patients with inflammatory connective tissue diseases (CTD) undergoing immunosuppressive therapy.


METHODS
A total of 18 consecutive CMV seropositive patients undergoing immunosuppressive therapy for inflammatory CTD were enrolled. CMV reactivation was determined by detection of CMV-DNA in peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) or plasma using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction.


RESULTS
CMV reactivation was detected in PBL in 7 of 17 evaluable patients (41%), and in plasma in 5 of 17 patients (29%). Patients with detectable CMV-DNA in plasma were exclusively positive for CMV-DNA in PBL. Conclusion. Patients with inflammatory CTD under immunosuppressive therapy are at high risk for CMV reactivation. The clinical significance of such an event and indications for antiviral therapy should be examined further.
Mori
Takehiko
T
Second Department of Internal Medicine, Saitama Medical Center, Saitama Medical School, Kawagoe, Saitama, Japan. tmori@sc.itc.keio.ac.jp
Kameda
Hideto
H
Ogawa
Hiroe
H
Iizuka
Atsushi
A
Sekiguchi
Naoya
N
Takei
Hirofumi
H
Nagasawa
Hayato
H
Tokuhira
Michihide
M
Tanaka
Toshio
T
Saito
Yumiko
Y
Amano
Koichi
K
Abe
Toru
T
Takeuchi
Tsutomu
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003240:Connective Tissue Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007154:Immune System Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents