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Quantification of CMV viraemia in a case of transfusion‐related graft‐versus‐host disease associated with purine analogue treatment
Author(s) -
DEANE MIRIAM,
GOR DEHILA,
MACMAHON M. EITHNE,
EMERY VINCE,
GRIFFITH PAUL D.,
CUMMINS MICHELLE,
PRENTICE H. GRANT
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
british journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.907
H-Index - 186
eISSN - 1365-2141
pISSN - 0007-1048
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2141.1997.3443158.x
Subject(s) - medicine , graft versus host disease , host (biology) , virology , purine analogue , immunology , disease , purine , biology , genetics , enzyme , biochemistry
We report a patient who developed transfusion‐associated graft‐versus‐host‐disease (GvHD) and concurrent cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection, both complications thought to be related to severe T lymphocyte depletion induced by treatment with a purine analogue drug, fludarabine. CMV viraemia was detected by qualitative PCR and the viral load in positive samples was measured using a fully quantitative PCR assay. This quantitative assay enabled the evaluation of the efficacy of antiviral interventions based on the qualitative PCR result. The case illustrates the risks associated with the use of purine analogue drugs, as well as the value of quantitative CMV PCR assays for monitoring CMV infection in immunocompromised patients.