TITRATION OF HUMAN CYTOMEGALOVIRUS (HCMV) DNA IN URINE BY COMBINED USE OF PCR AND MICROPLATE HYBRIDIZATION IN A RENAL-TRANSPLANT PATIENT WITH HCMV PNEUMONITIS

We titrated human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) DNA in urine specimens obtain ed from 14 healthy individuals and a renal transplant patient with HCM V pneumonitis by modifying the method for titration of varicella-zoste r virus DNA previously described (1,2). Of 14 HCMV seropositive health y individuals, 13 had HCMV DNA under the detection limit of 10(2.0) co pies/ml, whereas one person had 10(2.0) copies/ml. The viral DNA in ur ine samples was at a low level in healthy individuals with latent infe ction. In a case with HCMV pneumonitis after renal transplantation, th e amount of HCMV DNA in urine gradually in creased from the level unde r 10(2.0) copies/ml and reached a peak of 10(4.7) copies/ml one month prior to the manifestation of pneumonitis. It, thereafter, decreased w ith the course of clinical remission, and finally settled at under 10( 2.0) copies/ml. Serial titrations of HCMV DNA in urine specimens prove d to be useful in identifying recipients at risk of developing active HCMV infection after renal transplantation and as a guide for treatmen t of patients.