AEGiS-14IAC: Detection of cytomegalovirus in HIV-1 infected cases.

14th International AIDS Conference

Barcelona, Spain - July 7-12, 2002

Detection of cytomegalovirus in HIV-1 infected cases.

Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. B10169)

Siritantikorn S, Tanterdtam J, Anekthananont T, Techasathit W, Ratanasuwan W, Puthavathana P
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand

BACKGROUND: Human cytomegalovirus (CMV) is an important opportunistic infection in HIV infected persons. CMV viremia and CMV load in HIV 1-infected cases and in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients will be investigated.

METHODS: EDTA-blood samples used for detection of CMV were collected from 31 asymptomatic HIV infected cases and 24 AIDS patients with retinitis. Antigenemia assay to detect CMVpp65 antigen on the leukocytes was performed by using immunofluorescence technique. CMV DNA in leukocytes and in plasma were detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

RESULTS: In AIDS patients with retinitis, CMVpp65 antigen, CMV DNA in plasma and leukocytes were found in 17%, 42% and 88%, respectively. CMV viremia (6%) in asymptomatic HIV-1 infected cases was found only by the existing of CMV DNA in leukocyte samples.

CONCLUSIONS: CMV causes either asymptomatic or symptomatic infection with retinitis in AIDS patients. CMV viremia is a marker of this viral disseminated infection in these patients. Thus, it is used to monitor patients with CMV diseases. Interestingly, CMV viremia could be detected in asymptomatic cases. We therefore suggest that the quantitative CMV DNA in blood samples should be further investigated to determine the correlation of CMV viral load and CMV disease.

Keywords: AEGIS, Cytomegalovirus, HIV-1, Cytomegalovirus Infections, Viral Load, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV Infections, Polymerase Chain Reaction, Leukocytes, Retinitis, Human

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