Rapid detection of cytomegalovirus structures in cerebrospinal fluid and brain biopsies by polymerase chain reaction

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Abstract
The joint application of stereotactic brain biopsy and DNA amplification methods, like the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) are diagnostic purposes that allows in approximately 24 h to clarify the viral etiology of central nervous system infections. We demonstrate PCR results from the brain biopsy of an HIV-1 patient with two cerebral lesions. Beside the neuropathological diagnosis of a B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma the experimental results are indicative of active transcription of cytomegalovirus (CMV) in cerebral tissue. The markedly higher amount of CMV-specific RNA found in the biopsy specimens and CSF suggest the presence of an active infection with viral replication. CT-guided stereotactic brain biopsies followed by PCR fulfill the demands of a clinician, namely to get the results as fast as possible to initiate adequate treatment.