DELAYED ACQUISITION OF HIGH-AVIDITY ANTICYTOMEGALOVIRUS ANTIBODY IS CORRELATED WITH PROLONGED ANTIGENEMIA IN SOLID-ORGAN TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS

Previous studies have demonstrated that maturation of cytomegalovirus (CMV)-specific antibodies in solid organ transplant recipients is dela yed after primary CMV infection. To investigate the clinical significa nce of this finding, the avidity indices of anti-CMV antibody were det ermined in parallel with other serologic and virologic parameters in s erial serum samples from 24 solid organ transplant recipients who had primary CMV infection that began during the first 3 months after trans plantation. The data obtained show that a delay in antibody maturation is significantly correlated with a long persistence of positive antig enemia.