title: [Role of PCR detection and quantification of herpes viruses in bronchoalveolar lavage of immunocompromised patients].
abstract: Herpes virus infections represent common complications associated with respiratory tract involvement which may result in pneumonia development in immunocompromised patients. The analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid obtained from the lower respiratory tract may contribute to detection of aetiological agents of the disease. The routine use of quantitative molecular methods enables the discrimination between acute infection and viral reactivation with asymptomatic virus shedding. The aim of this review is to evaluate the contribution of BAL viral load monitoring in high-risk patients and to determine the cut-off of viral load leading to progression to herpes virus pneumonia.
authors.affiliation: Center of Molecular Biology and Gene Therapy, Clinic of Internal Medicine - Hematology and Oncology, Masaryk University Brno, Czech Republic. pvolfova@fnbrno.cz
authors.forename: Pavlína
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Volfová
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lengerová
authors.forename: Dana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dvořáková
authors.forename: Dita
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Paloušová
authors.forename: Kristýna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hrnčířová
authors.forename: Zdeněk
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ráčil
authors.forename: Jiří
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mayer
authors.forename: Sárka
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pospíšilová
mesh_terms: D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000821:virology*; D006564:Herpesviridae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D011024:Pneumonia, Viral / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D019562:Viral Load