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Cytomegalovirus Infection in Dialysis Patients and Personnel
- NINA E. TOLKOFF-RUBIN, M.D.;
- ROBERT H. RUBIN, M.D., F.A.C.P.;
- EVELYN E. KELLER, M.A.;
- GEORGE P. BAKER, M.D., F.A.C.P.;
- JOHN A. STEWART, M.D.; and
- MARTIN S. HIRSCH, M.D.
Abstract
In a 12-month prospective study of cytomegalovirus infection on an acute hemodialysis unit, 10 of 80 patients (13%) and none of 26 staff developed active cytomegalovirus infection. Seven infections were coincidental with renal allograft rejection; three occurred 3 to 6 weeks after the transfusion of multiple units of conventional blood into seronegative patients. No person-to-person transmission was documented. In contrast to the effects of transfusing conventional blood, all 21 patients who entered dialysis without detectable cytomegalovirus antibody and received 2 to 10 U of frozen deglycerolyzed erythrocytes (total of 157 U) remained seronegative. Transmission of cytomegalovirus infection with transfusion with conventional blood is probably secondary to passage of leukocyte-borne virus that is lost during the freezing and deglycerolization procedure. Frozen erythrocytes prepared by cytoagglomeration procedures appear to be free of viable leukocytes and appear to carry a minimal risk of transmitting cytomegalovirus infection.
Article and Author Information
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▸From the Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; The Infectious Disease and Hemodialysis Units of the Medical Service of the Massachusetts General Hospital; Boston, Massachusetts; and the Laboratory Branch of the Center for Disease Control; Atlanta, Georgia.
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▸Requests for reprints should be addressed to Robert H. Rubin, M.D., F.A.C.P.; Infectious Disease Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital; Fruit Street; Boston, MA 02114.
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- Received June 12, 1978.
- Accepted August 15, 1978.
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