Qualitative and Quantitative Detection of Cytomegalovirus DNA in Sera by PCR as a Clinical Marker

• Published in: Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin 1998/12/15, Vol.21(12), pp.1371-1375
• Main Authors: NAITOU, Hirotaka, MIMAYA, Jun-ichi, HORIKOSHI, Yasuo, TAKASHIMA, Yoshifumi, AMANO, Koji, MORITA, Tamotsu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections - blood; AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections - virology; AIDS/HIV; Biological and medical sciences; Blood Preservation; competitive PCR; cytomegalovirus (CMV)-associated disease; Cytomegalovirus - isolation & purification; Cytomegalovirus Infections - blood; Cytomegalovirus Infections - diagnosis; DNA, Viral - blood; Human cytomegalovirus; Human viral diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Medical sciences; Polymerase Chain Reaction; qualitative PCR; quantitative PCR; serum cytomegalovirus (CMV) DNA; Viral diseases; Viral diseases of the respiratory system and ent viral diseases
• ISSN: 0918-6158; 1347-5215
• DOI: 10.1248/bpb.21.1371

The amount of human cytomegalovirus (CMV) DNA in sera is considered to be a direct marker for CMV infection. We established conditions for nested PCR that detected one copy of CMV DNA, and for competitive PCR, which detected five or more copies of CMV DNA quantitatively. We tested 50 μl each of 16 freeze-stored and 5 fresh sera from patients, for CMV DNA. In sera obtained from the same patient at different time points, small amounts of CMV DNA were detected before the onset of CMV pneumonia. In sera from certain CMV-in-fected patients who were treated with the anti-CMV agent, ganciclovir, CMV DNA was not detected. Quantitative PCR detection of CMV DNA seems to be suitable for predicting early recurrent CMV infection and monitoring the efficacy of antiviral therapy. The qualitative nested PCR examination of CMV DNA in 40 cord blood plasma samples was carried out for the purpose of preventing CMV infection by cord blood stem cell transplantation, and they were all negative for CMV DNA.