THE CYTOMEGALOVIRUS-ANTIGENEMIA ASSAY IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF POSTTRANSPLANT CYTOMEGALOVIRUS-INFECTION

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection continues to be a major cause of morbi dity and mortality in transplant recipients, yet prompt diagnosis rema ins a problem. A new assay has been developed that detects CMV antigen s in peripheral blood leukocytes (CMV-AG). A retrospective analysis of the experience with this assay was performed, and its usefulness in t he diagnosis of CMV infection in renal transplant recipients with unex plained fever was compared with that of conventional modalities (buffy coat culture, detection of circulating anti-CMV immunoglobulin M). Th e results suggest that the CMV-AG assay is a more rapid and sensitive test than existing modalities in the early diagnosis of CMV infection. When expressed quantitatively, it can discriminate between CMV infect ion and CMV disease, and it is useful in monitoring the course of infe ction and the response to therapy.