CYTOMEGALOVIRUS, HUMAN HERPESVIRUS-6 AND HUMAN T-CELL LEUKEMIA-VIRUS INFECTION IN RENAL TRANSPLANTED PATIENTS IN THE NORTHEAST OF BRAZIL

The seroprevalence of antibodies against cytomegalovirus (CMV), human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) and human T cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1), determined by ELISA and by fluorescence in 54 renal transplanted pati ents, was 96.2%, 88.8% and 11.1%, respectively. These values are relat ively high when compared with the results obtained for healthy individ uals of the same age groups from Recife, Northeastern Brazil. Active C MV infection was detected by the presence of IgM antibodies and/or vir us isolation in 13 (24%) patients. Kidney rejection and renal dysfunct ion were observed in 11 of these 13 patients, whereas 3 of 6 HTLV-1 an tibody-positive individuals presented these complications. All HTLV-1 positive patients were also positive to IgG CMV and HHV-6 antibodies. The importance of the three viruses in this clinical condition is sugg ested by the high seropositivity rates compared with the healthy popul ation. The group may also represent a potential source of HTLV-1 infec tion in this non-endemic area.