Reduction of postperfusion cytomegalovirus-infections following the use of leukocyte depleted blood.

After extracorporeal perfusion some patients develop evidence of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection. It is proposed that antigenically stimulated donor and recipient leukocytes may divide and activate latent CMV associated with leukocytes. To test this hypothesis, alternate patients were perfused with leukocyte-depleted or whole blood (controls). Four of six controls who were CMV antibody negative preoperatively seroconverted after perfusion. Virus was recovered from the blood of three and from the urine of two of these patients. One of four controls who were seropositive preoperatively developed a significant titer rise. Only one of eight patients perfused with leukocyte poor blond who were seronegative prior to surgery developed a viremia and became antibody positive; another manifested a viruria but remained antibody negative. These findings are consistent with the proposed hypothesis and suggest a means for reducing transfusion-associated CMV infections.