LABORATORY CRITERIA FOR CYTOMEGALOVIRAL ACTIVITY IN HIV-POSITIVE PATIENTS

Abstract

The paper provides analysis of laboratory tests used to identify activity of Cytomegalovirus infection in groups of HIV-positive patients with veneral and percutaneous channels of infection. It has been revealed that in more frequent cases the leukocytic suspension obtained from HIV-positive injecting drug users was indicative of Cytomegalovirus DNA or antigens, which levels correlated to Cytomegalovirus manifestation. The low efficiency of serologic tests was proved for diagnostics and prediction of the disease progress. The authors suggested using the following serologic markers as basic laboratory criteria: IgM Immunoglobulin M and, especially, IgA Immunoglobulin A originated from Cytomegalovirus as well as DNA and antigens ("early" proteins) detected in the leukocytic suspension during immunofluorescence reaction and polymerase chain reaction.