The Detection Of Cytomegalovirus Infection In Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Recipients By Fluorescent Quantitative PCR Assay

Objective Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) belongs to the group of betaherpesvirus with the biological feature of latent and reactivated infection. HCMV remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (allo-HSCT) recipients. The objective of this study was to learn about the HCMV infection condition in allo-HSCT recipients, to assess the clinical utility of fluorescent quantitative PCR (FQ-PCR) assay for the detection of HCMV infection in allo-HSCT recipients and to make a comparison between plasma FQ-PCR and leukocytic FQ-PCR.Methods A total of 44 blood samples from 6 allo-HSCT patients within 100 days post transplantation and 14 allo-HSCT patients beyond 100 days post transplantation were tested by plasma FQ-PCR, leukocytic FQ-PCR and serological assay. Statistical analysis of plasma FQ-PCR and leukocytic FQ-PCR was performed by chi-square test.Results Among the 20 allo-HSCT patients, none was positive for HCMV-IgM while 3 patients were found to be positive by FQ-PCR assay. One became positive at 24 days post transplantation, another at 45 days andthe other beyond 100 days. The difference between plasma HCMV-DNA and leukocytic HCMV-DNA did not reach statistical significance. Conclusion This study indicates that 1) HCMV infection is one of common complications in allo-HSCT recipients, which occurs mostly during the second month after transplantation. 2) FQ-PCR assay is a useful method for early and rapid detection of HCMV infection in allo-HSCT recipients. Serological assay appears less sensitive than FQ-PCR assay to monitor HCMV infection after stem cell transplantation. 3) The difference between plasma HCMV-DNA and leukocytic HCMV-DNA does not reach statistical significance.