THE POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION, A SENSITIVE AND RAPID TECHNIQUE FOR DETECTING CYTOMEGALOVIRUS INFECTION AFTER RENAL TRANSPLANTATION

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Abstract
Fifty-nine renal transplant recipients were followed during the first 3 months after transplantation. Once weekly, cultures of urine and buffy coat for CMV were taken. Furthermore, peripheral blood leukocytes were examined by an immunocytochemical assay for immediate early antigens of CMV (IEA assay) and by a polymeric chain reaction for CMV DNA. Forty-four patients had a CMV infection; 23 of them were symptomatic. PCR was positive in 22 of the 23 patients with symptomatic CMV disease. For cultures of urine, buffy coat, and the IEA assay these figures were 23, 20, and 21, respectively. The PCR was the first test to become positive in 10 patients. For the cultures of urine and buffy coat and the IEA assay these figures were 0, 2, and 2, respectively. In the other 9 patients, 2 or more tests became positive at the same time. In the patient group with a CMV infection but without symptoms the PCR also had a good correlation with the other diagnostic techniques. These results together with its short processing time of 6 hr make the PCR a sensitive and rapid technique for monitoring CMV infections after renal transplantation.

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