HEMATOLOGICAL MALIGNANCIES

FREQUENCY OF CYTOMEGALOVIRUS INFECTION IN PATIENTS

Abstract

Infection rate of CMV in adults is approximately 60% in the developed countries
and almost 100% in the developing countries. Objectives: To evaluate the frequency of
cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in patients with different hematological malignancies. Design:
Observational study. Setting: Gulab Devi Chest Hospital & INMOL Hospital Lahore. Period: Six
months. Materials and methods: The blood samples were drawn from the selected patients
after taking their written informed consent. The DNA was extracted from the whole blood and
the polymerase chain reaction was performed for CMV DNA using CMV PCR kit (Cinnagen
Inc. Catalog # PR7836C). The 222bp fragment corresponding to the size marker and positive
control was considered as positive. The data was analyzed by SPSS version 16. Results: The
mean age of patients was 36 years. Out of 16, 3 were presented with interstitial pneumonitis, 14
with retinitis, 3 with esophagitis and 5 were presented with colitis respectively. In this study one
sample was tested positive for CMV DNA. Conclusions: CMV infection may be a serious threat
for the patients with compromised immune system such as those receiving chemotherapy. The
screening for CMV should be done before the blood transfusion to such patients.