Differentiation of cytomegalovirus infection from acute rejection using renal allograft fine needle aspirates

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is an important cause of renal allograft dysfunction and may be difficult to distinguish from acute transplant rejection both clinically and histologically. To establish the early diagnosis of CMV infection, we used immunohistochemical staining with antibodies against CMV early nuclear protein (CMV-A) and histocompatibility leukocyte class II antigen (DR) in renal transplant fine needle aspirates. Fifty-eight aspirates from 27 patients were assessed, 53 for CMV-A and 53 for DR. Positive staining was defined as greater than or equal to 35% stained tubular cells for CMV-A and greater than or equal to 30% stained tubular cells for DR. Clinical diagnoses were made retrospectively without using the information obtained from aspirate diagnoses. CMV-A staining was negative in 44 aspirates, none at the time of CMV infection. CMV-A was positive in nine aspirates, seven during CMV infection (78%, P less than 0.00001 versus CMV-A negative). DR staining was never present in the absence of acute rejection. All aspirates performed during acute rejection had positive DR staining (P less than 0.00001 versus DR negative). Aspirates with acute rejection comprised 80% of all DR-positive aspirates, whereas those with CMV infection included only 13%. The percent CMV-A staining increased with CMV disease progression; DR staining decreased after successful treatment of acute rejection. These data demonstrate that CMV-A staining is associated with CMV infection whereas DR staining is not. DR staining is specifically related to acute rejection. CMV-A and DR staining of fine needle aspirates is a potentially valuable diagnostic tool to distinguish rapidly between CMV infection and acute transplant rejection as the etiology of renal allograft dysfunction.