ACQUIRED CYTOMEGALOVIRUS IN A SERIES OF 116 IMMUNOCOMPETENT ADULTS

OBJECTIVE: To analyse retrospectively the clinical, biological and epi demiological features of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in the immuno competent host. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was conduc ted in 116 cases of CMV infection (74 impatients, 42 outpatients) coll ected from 1981 to 1997 in a university hospital. Diagnostic was estab lished on serological criteria in all cases. RESULTS: Fever was observ ed in all cases but one (mean duration: 21 days). The most frequent sy mptoms were headache (51%) and myalgia (46%). Splenomegaly was the mos t frequent sign (36%). Pulmonary interstitial opacities on chest x-ray were found in 8,5% of patients. Pulmonary (1 case) and neurological ( 2 cases) complications occurred. Concomitant HIV primary infection was observed in 2 patients. Mononucleosis and ALAT and LDH elevations wer e observed in 95%, 85% and 95%. of cases respectively. Viremia was pos itive in 79% (30/38). pp65 antigenemia was useful to establish the dia gnosis in 9 patients. Antibiotics were prescribed in 46% before diagno sis was established. CONCLUSION: CMV infection in the immunocompetent host is a frequent and rarely complicated disease. pp65 antigenemia sh ould be evaluated more in this setting. Most hospitalizations due to t his affection could be avoided.