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Role of the Cytomegalovirus (CMV)‐Antigenemia Assay as a Predictive and Follow‐Up Detection Tool for CMV Disease in AIDS Patients
Author(s) -
Hoshino Yoshihiko,
Nagata Yoichi,
Taguchi Hitomi,
Masunaga Atsuko,
Fujino Yujiro,
Mochizuki Manabu,
Nakamura Tetsuya,
Iwamoto Aikichi
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
microbiology and immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.664
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1348-0421
pISSN - 0385-5600
DOI - 10.1111/j.1348-0421.1999.tb03356.x
Subject(s) - cytomegalovirus , predictive value , betaherpesvirinae , retinitis , human cytomegalovirus , medicine , gastroenterology , cytomegalovirus infection , immunology , herpesviridae , disease , predictive value of tests , positive predicative value , viral disease , biology , virology , virus
Forty‐two patients were evaluated to determine the value of the CMV antigenemia (CMV‐Ag) test as a follow‐up marker as well as a prediction marker of CMV disease. Twenty patients were positive for at least one positive CMV‐Ag assay and 9 of them developed CMV retinitis. With the threshold value (10 positive cells), sensitivity was 56% and specificity was 94%. The CMV‐Ag assay, with the threshold value, produced high specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value but relatively poor sensitivity. Eight patients experienced CMV disease relapse a total of 16 times. At relapse, 8 of the 16 times showed negative for CMV‐Ag assay; 7 underwent systemic maintenance while 1 underwent local maintenance. It is inferred that the CMV‐Ag test is a poor follow‐up marker to detect the relapse of CMV disease, particularly in patients undergoing systemic maintenance.