High frequency of positive surveillance for cytomegalovirus (CMV) by PCR in allograft recipients at low risk of CMV

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) causes significant morbidity and mortality following allogeneic haemopoietic stem cell transplantation. A pre-emptive strategy for ganciclovir therapy is widely used, whereby treatment is commenced on finding positive evidence of CMV replication. Surveillance by PCR has increased the sensitivity for CMV detection, but it is not known whether this may detect cases with evidence of CMV DNAemia who have a low probability of CMV disease. We reviewed our experience of CMV infection and disease since introducing CMV surveillance by PCR, All 30 allografts received bedside leucodepleted CMV-negative blood products. Seven of 10 CMV-positive recipients of a CMV-positive graft developed CMV DNAemia, with three developing clinical disease requiring ganciclovir treatment. In contrast, of 11 low risk patients (CMV-negative recipients of CMV-negative grafts), six developed evidence of CMV DNAemia although only one had clinical evidence of CMV disease requiring ganciclovir, Transfusion records confirmed that four of these had received exclusively CMV-negative blood products. The aetiology of the CMV DNAemia in these cases is unclear. It is suggested that before commencing ganciclovir therapy, confirmatory CMV antigenaemia testing is carried out on samples which test positive for CMV DNA, unless there is high clinical suspicion of CMV disease.