Quantitation of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) DNA in cerebrospinal fluid by competitive PCR in AIDS patients with different HCMV central nervous system diseases

Scand J Infect Dis. 1995;27(6):559-61. doi: 10.3109/00365549509047067.

Abstract

The current study was designed to quantitate human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) DNA in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of persons with AIDS with specific HCMV-related CNS disease. DNA present in CSF obtained from AIDS patients was initially detected by a qualitative PCR procedure and then quantitated using a competitive PCR assay. In a group of 21 AIDS patients with HCMV-related CNS disease, 12 patients with HCMV polyradiculopathy had a mean +/- SEM of 11,982 +/- 4,480 copies/microliters in their CSF compared to 1,747 +/- 929 for 9 patients with HCMV encephalitis p = 0.017). Of the 14 patients with > 1,000 copies/microliters of HCMV DNA in CSF, 11(79%) had HCMV polyradiculopathy including all 3 with > 10,000 copies/microliters. Ganciclovir treatment of 3 patients with HCMV-related CNS disease was associated with a decline in HCMV DNA detectable within CSF. These data indicate that quantities of HCMV DNA in CSF are higher in persons with HCMV-related polyradiculopathy than encephalitis, and that quantitation of HCMV DNA can be useful in monitoring antiviral therapy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / cerebrospinal fluid*
  • AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / drug therapy
  • AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / virology
  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use
  • Central Nervous System Diseases / cerebrospinal fluid*
  • Central Nervous System Diseases / virology
  • Cytomegalovirus / isolation & purification*
  • Cytomegalovirus Infections / cerebrospinal fluid*
  • Cytomegalovirus Infections / drug therapy
  • DNA, Viral / analysis
  • DNA, Viral / cerebrospinal fluid*
  • Encephalitis, Viral / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Encephalitis, Viral / virology
  • Ganciclovir / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Polyradiculopathy / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Polyradiculopathy / virology
  • Prognosis

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • DNA, Viral
  • Ganciclovir