Hippokratia 2003, 7(2):93-96
I Fryda – Mihailidis
Microbiology Dpt, Hippokratio General Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece
Abstract
In tissue and organ transplantation the imunosuppresive therapy produces an environment that human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) can exert its full pathogenicity. In the immunocompromised host HCMV disease is a serious cause of morbidity and mortality. Early treatment of HCMV disease, or preemptive therapy is mandatory for the patient and the graft. Organ transplant centers must be supported by laboratories capable to trace routinely the replication of HCMV. The methods used today are described in this technical note and include non-molecular assays (pp 65 antigenemia assay) and molecular assays (CMV – DNA quantitative PCR assay).