Comparison of CMV pp65 antigen and IgM antibody detection for early recognition of CMV primary infection and reactivation.

ABSTRACT

Detection of Cytomegalovirus (CMV) pp65 antigen and CMV IgM antibody were compared for the early diagnosis of CMV primary infection or reactivation. Sixty seven immunocompromised patients were studied prospectively for the diagnosis of CMV primary infection or reactivation. CMV IgM antibody was detected in 19 (28.43%) of the 67 immunocompromised patients, whereas pp65 antigen was detected in 20 (29.8%). Among the 19 patients who were positive for both pp65 antigen and CMV IgM antibody, pp65 antigen was detected earlier in 10 of 19 patients. In the remaining 9 patients IgM antibody against CMV was detected simultaneously with the pp65 antigen. The pp65 antigen appeared on an average 16.37 days earlier than that of CMV IgM antibody.