prevalence of cytomegalovirus [CMV] infection in multi transfused children

ABSTRACT

This study was earned out on 25 patients with chronic blood diseases necessitating repeated blood transfusions, together with 25 normal controls. The ages of cases and controls ranged from 2 to 13 years. Cases reveived blood transfusions repeatedly from 50 to 300 times. From all cases and controls urine and sera were collected and tested by the ELISA technique for both cytomegalovirus [CMV] antigen and antibody 56% of the cases had CMV antigen in their urine and 44% In their sera they had CMV antibody. Meanwhile in the control group 16% and 8% had the antigen and antisera respectively. The difference for both the antigen and antisera was statistically significant between the cases and controls. There was no statistical difference concerning the age, sex, blood grouping clinical variety of the blood disease, or according to the number of blood transfusions given. The risk of CMV Infection after blood transfusions is not a remote possibility. Screening f or CMV of blood donors is strongly recommended, specially if the donated blood is intended to be used In. vulnerable cases as pregnant ladies and newborn infants