CYTOMEGALOVIRUS-INFECTION IN CHILDREN UNDERGOING OPEN-HEART SURGERY

  • 1 January 1976
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 49  (1) , 83-91
Abstract
Children (124) undergoing open-heart surgery were followed prospectively to estimate the risk of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection due to transfused blood. Of these, 93 (75%) had complement fixation (CF) titers < 1:4 against CMV on admission. Of this seronegative subgroup, 9 (9.7%) subsequently became infected with CMV. All 9 showed seroconversion, and 6 were viruric 12-14 wk after surgery. Comparative seroepidemiological studies of the hospital population showed that in the age ranges studied (3-16 yr), the infections seen in the study group represented a significant excess over expectation. This infection rate was consistent with a model of transmission by blood transfusion with a risk of 2.7%/unit but not proven. CF antibody to CMV was found in 31 patients on admission. CMV was isolated from 14% of urines of seropositive children before and after surgery, but only 2 patients showed CF antibody rises to CMV. The frequency of CMV infection associated with open-heart surgery and transfusion could not be calculated in the seropositive subgroup. CMV infection was not related to the primary diagnosis or to Down''s syndrome.