title: [Early detection of cytomegalovirus infection in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant patients by real time-quantitative PCR].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  CMV pp65-antigenemia (antigenemia) has been used for monitoring CMV viremia in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (aHSCT) recipients. Recently, real time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) has been used as a better approach than antigenemia for CMV diagnosis. The objective of this study was to assess the correlation of CMV viremia between RT-qPCR and antigenemia in aHSCT patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Observational prospective study of all aHSCT patients during 10 months in our center. CMV RT-qPCR in whole blood was performed weekly from day +7 to +100 after aHSCT. Simultaneous antigenemia was performed from engrafment to day +100. Concordance between both assays was evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighteen patients were included. In 120 simultaneous samples, 96 were concordant by both methods (80%). Kappa coefficient was 0.583. In 42% of cases without concordant results, patients were on antiviral therapy. Thirteen patients (72%) developed CMV infection (20 episodes). In 17 episodes, both the antigenemia and CMV RT-qPCR were positive. CMV RT-qPCR was detectable 1-2 weeks before antigenemia in 45% of the episodes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both methods had a moderate concordance and CMV RT-qPCR detects CMV reactivations earlier than antigenemia, especially in neutropenic patients.
authors.forename: M Elena
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Ceballos
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vizcaya
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pavez
authors.forename: Jaime
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cerda
authors.forename: Constanza
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Martínez-Valdebenito
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Montecinos
authors.forename: Marcela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ferrés
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D019562:Viral Load; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000956:Antigens, Viral; D004279:DNA, Viral