Overt cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection following renal transplantation--usefulness of CFA, NIA, PENA antibodies as markers in serological diagnosis and evaluation of risk factors influencing the manifestations of CMV infection.

Serum CMV antibody titers have been measured over a period starting prior to transplantation as an approach to diagnosis of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection following renal transplantation. CMV infection following renal transplantation was surveyed in cases selected for the present study, and the following conclusions were drawn. (1) The usefulness of complement fixation antigen (CFA) antibodies, nuclear inclusion antigen (NIA) antibodies and pre-early nuclear antigen (PENA) antibodies in serum as markers for serological diagnosis of CMV infection was evaluated from the viewpoint of sensitivity of CF, IF, and ACIF antibody detection methods. The IF method was found to be the most sensitive for antibody detection, and NIA antibodies were found to be the most useful index in diagnosing CMV infection following renal transplantation. (2) An evaluation was made of the risk index that is presumably correlated with the onset of manifestations of CMV infection following renal transplantation. CMV infection following renal transplantation probably due to latent virus dissemination from the donor appeared to act as the risk index correlated with the onset of manifestations of CMV infection following renal transplantation.