Cytomegalovirus infection in patients undergoing autologous peripheral blood CD34 super(+) cell transplantation

BACKGROUND: Mortality rate of cytomegalovirus reactive infection, especially cytomegalovirus pneumonia is very high, and easily combined with infection of bacterium, fungus and protozoon. These directly affect long-term surviving of patients. As a result, to search an early sensitive cytomegalovirus detection method is necessary. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the early diagnostic value of enzyme linked immunsorbent assay, immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry to detect cytomegalovirus infection in patients after autologous peripheral blood stem cells transplantation. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: This is a controlled study. Cases were collected from Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University from 2002 to 2005. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 19 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (n=16) and pemphigus (n=3) undergoing autologous peripheral blood CD34+ cell transplantation, comprising 5 males and 14 females, aged 11-38 years were enrolled. None of patients developed diabetes, asthma, urticaria, eczema, inflammatory bowel disease or other rheumatism. METHODS: Peripheral blood was collected at 3, 6, 12 and 24 months prior to and following transplantation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Cytomegalovirus antibody and antigen were detected in 19 patients undergoing autologous peripheral blood hematopoietic stem cell transplantation at 3, 6, 12 and 24 months before and after transplantation by enzyme linked immunsorbent assay, immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry. RESULTS: A total of 19 patients were included in the final analysis. The positive rate of cytomegalovirus specific IgG and IgM antibodies was 100% and 3.2%, respectively. 14 cases are positive to immunohistochemistry, resulting in the positive rate of 14.7%, and 13 cases are positive to flow cytometry, resulting in the positive rate of 13.7%, respectively. Significant differences were detected in positive rate by using the four detection method (x super(2) 261.929, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Cytomegalovirus infection is very common in the patients after autologous peripheral blood pematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Flow cytometry has significances to diagnose cytomegalovirus infection.