Anti-HCMV IgG positivity rate among renal transplant recipients in Baghdad

• Published in: Saudi journal of kidney diseases and transplantation Vol. 22; no. 6; pp. 1269 - 1274
• Main Authors: al-Ujayli, Karim S., Abd al-Razzaq, Sh. Hasan, al-Alusi, Bassam M., al-Jashamy, Karim A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Saudi Center for Organ Transplantation 01-11-2011; Medknow Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd; Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
• Subjects: Adult; Care and treatment; Complications; Cross-Sectional Studies; Cytomegalovirus infections; Cytomegalovirus Infections - immunology; Demographic aspects; Female; Genetic aspects; Health aspects; Humans; Immunoglobulin G; Immunoglobulin G - immunology; Immunological aspects; Iran; Kidney Transplantation - immunology; Kidneys; Male; Organ transplant recipients; Properties; Transplantaion; Transplantation; Young Adult; الغلوبولين المناعي ج; الفيروس المضخم للخلايا; الكلى; المضاعفات; زرع الأعضاء; Iran; Iraq
• ISSN: 1319-2442; 2320-3838

In developing countries, the majority of infection by human cytomegalovirus
(HCMV) occurs during childhood and continues as a latent infection. By adulthood, almost all the
population may show anti-HCMV IgG as positive. This study was undertaken to determine the
correlation between the prevalence of HCMV antibodies and HCMV infection during post
transplant period among renal transplant patients in Baghdad. 43 renal transplant patients attending
three renal transplantation centers, and 40 healthy individuals who served as controls were enrolled
in this study. 18 (41.9%) were transplanted recently and they were under post-operative follow-up
and 25 (58.1%) were transplanted more than one year ago. Detection of anti-HCMV IgG was
carried out using enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA). The results revealed that anti-
HCMV IgG was significantly higher among renal transplant recipients compared to healthy controls
(97.7% vs 85%, P = 0.04). The anti-HCMV IgG positivity rate was not affected by patients’ age,
sex, and duration after transplantation or immunosuppressive therapy. We conclude that the high
anti-HCMV IgG positivity rate among Iraqi renal transplant recipients make them prone to considerable
risk of reactivation of HCMV infection