Comparison of plasma PCR and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid culture for detection of cytomegalovirus infection in adult bone marrow transplant recipients

J Clin Microbiol. 1994 Sep;32(9):2266-9. doi: 10.1128/jcm.32.9.2266-2269.1994.

Abstract

Plasma PCR for human cytomegalovirus (CMV) DNA was compared with bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid culture as an indicator for disseminated CMV infection. Thirteen (32.5%) of 40 consecutive bone marrow transplant (BMT) recipients were BAL fluid culture positive for CMV on day 35 post-BMT, and 9 (69%) of the 13 had positive plasma PCRs between days 28 and 49. Of the 27 with negative BAL fluid cultures, 2 (7%) had positive plasma PCRs (P < 0.001). Plasma CMV DNA in BMT recipients is a useful clinical marker for serious infection.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Base Sequence
  • Bone Marrow Transplantation*
  • Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid*
  • Cell Line
  • Cytomegalovirus / genetics
  • Cytomegalovirus / growth & development
  • Cytomegalovirus / isolation & purification*
  • Cytomegalovirus Infections / microbiology*
  • Cytomegalovirus Infections / prevention & control
  • DNA, Viral / blood
  • DNA, Viral / isolation & purification*
  • Ganciclovir / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Immunocompromised Host
  • Lung Diseases, Interstitial / microbiology*
  • Lung Diseases, Interstitial / prevention & control
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Pneumonia, Viral / microbiology*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / prevention & control
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction*
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Viremia / microbiology*
  • Virus Cultivation*

Substances

  • DNA, Viral
  • Ganciclovir