The Reactivation of the Cytomegalovirus
(CMV) Infection in HIV Infected Patients
749-751
Correspondence
Dr Mane Pratibha, M.D. (Microbiology)
Department of Microbiology, Mamata Medical College,
Khammam, 507002.
Andhra Pradesh, India.
E-mail: drsachinkolte@sify.com
Background: CMV is a virus of paradoxes and can be a potential killer or a silent companion lifelong. The CMV infection in immunocompromised patients carries high morbidity and mortality. In most people with a fully functional immune system, an initial infection with CMV may cause a mild flu like illness and later the virus remains dormant. A damaged immune system permits CMV reactivation. The magnitude of this problem in India has not been adequately investigated and it is still a major health problem, warranting strong preventive measures.
Aims: We planned to study the prevalence of the CMV infection, re infection and the reactivation of the CMV infection in persons who were infected with HIV and AIDS and to correlate the reactivation of this disease with the CD 4 cell count in these patients.
Settings And Design: This study was planned on patients who attended the ICTC center and it was conducted over a period of six months.
Methods And Material: This study was conducted on 94 patients who were reactive for the HIV1 and/or HIV2 antibodies. The serum samples were tested for the IgG and IgM antibodies which were directed against CMV by ELISA.
Results: Among the 94 cases, IgG antibodies were detected in 84 (89.4%) and IgM in 10(10.6%) cases. Among the 84 IgG cases, 42 were males and 42 were females. The IgM antibodies were positive in 4 (9.52%) out the 42 cases of AIDS and in 6 (11.5%) out of the 52 seropositive healthy individuals.
Statistics: Percentage and Chi square tests were applied.
Conclusion: As there is a high seroprevalence of the CMV infection in HIV positive patients and as there is a reactivation of CMV in healthy and immuno suppressed HIV positive patients, the early diagnosis of the CMV IgM antibodies help in the early detection of the reactivation of the virus before the development of the clinical manifestations. They improve the survival and protect the patients from the development of end organ disease.