Prognostic effect of lymphocyte subgroup CD4+ and CD8+ cells in peripheral blood in renal transplant patients with cytomegalovirus viremia.
OBJECTIVE
Our aim was to evaluate the prognostic effect of peripheral blood lymphocyte subgroup CD4+ and CD8+ cells on renal transplant patients with cytomegalovirus (CMV) viremia.


METHODS
Using 41 renal transplant patients with CMV-PCR(+) in peripheral blood and stable values of serum creatinine (SCr), we evaluated the changes in lymphocyte subgroup CD4+ and CD8+ cells with onset of antiviral therapy with gancyclovir for treatment of pneumonia. We compared patients with or without pneumonia.


RESULTS
The lower the peripheral blood lymphocyte subgroup CD4+ and CD8+ cell numbers, the higher the incidence of CMV pneumonia. The numbers of CD4+ and CD8+ cells at 1 month posttransplantation and at the time of CMV-PCR(+) detection were significantly lower than those before transplantation in the CMV pneumonia group (P < .01) and also in the nonpneumonia group.


CONCLUSIONS
The decrease in peripheral blood lymphocyte subgroup CD4+ and CD8+ cells after renal transplantation in patients with CMV viremia showed prognostic value for pneumonia. Increased CD4+ and CD8+ cells in peripheral blood combined with preemptive therapy may reduce the incidence of pneumonia among patients with CMV viremia.
Chen
J S
JS
Research Institute of Nephrology, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing University School of Medicine, Nanjing, China.
Li
L S
LS
Cheng
D R
DR
Ji
S M
SM
Sun
Q Q
QQ
Cheng
Z
Z
Wen
J Q
JQ
Sha
G Z
GZ
Liu
Z H
ZH
D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000235:genetics; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D015774:Ganciclovir / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology*; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011024:Pneumonia, Viral / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011379:Prognosis
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D015774:Ganciclovir