Medknow Publications and Staff Society of Seth GS Medical College and KEM Hospital, Mumbai, India
Abstract
Background: Since interpretation of results of enzyme linked
immuno-sorbent assay (ELISA) for diagnosis of Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
infection in India is difficult, its diagnostic value required
evaluation. Aims: To evaluate the diagnostic value of ELISA against
polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in CMV disease. Settings and Design:
Results of ELISA test for CMV antibodies in CMV-DNA PCR positive and
negative patients and normal healthy blood donors were analysed.
Methods and Material: Anti-CMV antibodies were assayed by ELISA on the
sera of 26 CMV PCR positive and 21 PCR negative patients and 35 normal
healthy blood donors. Statistical analysis: Chi square and Fischer
exact test were used for statistical analysis. Results: Anti-CMV
antibodies (IgG or IgG and IgM) were present in 20 (76.9%) of 26 PCR
positive and 13 (61.9%) of 21 PCR negative patients. ELISA was negative
in six (23.1%) of 26 PCR positive patients. Of the 28 paediatric
patients, ELISA was positive in 14 (73.7%) of 19 PCR positive and three
(33.3%) of nine PCR negative patients showing a statistically
significant difference (Chi square test, P value 0.038). Among the 19
patients having complications after organ transplant, ELISA showed
anti-CMV antibodies in six (85.7%) of seven PCR positive and 11 (91.7%)
of 12 PCR negative patients showing no significant difference. CMV-DNA
was not detected in the buffy coat of 35 sero-positive blood donors.
Conclusion: ELISA has no diagnostic value in the detection of CMV
activation although it may help in the differential diagnosis of CMV
infection in the paediatric age group. (J Postgrad Med 2002;48:176-178