Prevention and treatment of cytomegalovirus infections with interferons and immune globulins.

With the exception of congenitally-infected infants, cytomegalovirus infection is generally benign in persons with normal host defenses. In contrast, among immunosuppressed patients, these infections may be severe and sometimes fatal. Treatment of cytomegalovirus infection with presently available antiviral agents including interferons has not been successful. Prevention of infection has been successful in several circumstances, however. Cytomegalovirus is transmitted by blood products from seropositive donors, and screening to remove seropositive blood products or freezing to destroy leukocytes has been effective among neonates, cardiac transplant patients and renal dialysis patients. An alternative approach used among marrow transplant patients is passive immunization of seronegative patients with plasma or globulins with high antibody titers against cytomegalovirus. Alpha interferon given prophylactically has been effective in delaying virus reactivation and reducing the severity of infection among seropositive renal transplant patients. All of these approaches, as well as the continued development of more effective antiviral agents, will be needed for control of cytomegalovirus infection.