Cytomegalovirus hepatitis in an artificial kidney unit.

Serum hepatitis is a dreaded risk in connection with regular dialysis treatment (RDT). Liver damage, however, can be cuased by other diseases, such as infection with cytomegalovirus (CMV). Two cases in our artificial kidney unit revealed signs of liver damage with increased liver enzyme activity. Case 1, a woman, was on RDT after an unsuccessful renal transplantation, and Case 2, a man, belonged to the staff. Serum hepatitis was initially suspected in both cases, but repeated examinations of the sera revealed no hepatitis B antigen or antibodies (HbAg and HbAb). Later on, both showed a significant increase in antibodies in complement fixations reaction (CF) to CMV-antigen. CMV could be isolated from urine in Case 2. Case 1 had been bilaterally nephrectomized. The symptoms (tiredness, muscle pain and headache) and the course of the disease were mild in both cases and liver enzymes became normal within 1-2 weeks. Twenty out of 31 examined patients and staff had antibodies in CF to CMV-antigen, but in none was there any significant increase. The source of infection may have been transfusion of fresh blood in Case 1, but in Case 2 no particular source could be suspected. Thus, in liver damage CMV-infection may be an etiological alternative. In routine work at artficial kidney unite patients and personnel are regularly examined in respect of bilirubin, liver enzymes, HbAg and HbAb in serum. We recommend also examination of serum for antibodies in CF to CMV-antigen. Until a firm differential diagnosis has been established the patient should be isolated and the dialysis equipments used only by that patient.