J Korean Med Sci.  2006 Feb;21(1):5-10. 10.3346/jkms.2006.21.1.5.

Transfusion-related Cytomegalovirus Infection Among Very Low Birth Weight Infants in an Endemic Area

• Kim AR
• Lee YK
• Kim KA
• Chu YK
• Baik BY
• Kim ES
• Yun SC
• Kim KS
• Pi SY

• KMID: 2157773
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2006.21.1.5

Abstract

This study investigated the incidence of acquired cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in very low birth weight infants (VLBWI) given CMV seropositive blood, and sought to determine whether filtering and irradiation of blood products could help prevent CMV infection and the time required to clear passively-derived anti-CMV IgG among 80 VLBWI transfused with filtered-irradiated blood, 20 VLBWI transfused with nonfiltered- nonirradiated blood and 26 nontransfused VLBWI. CMV IgG and IgM values were obtained from all blood products prior to transfusions, and from VLBWI at birth until the infants became seronegative. Urine was obtained for CMV culture at birth and every 3-4 weeks until 12 weeks after the final transfusion. The incidence of CMV IgG seropositivity among the 126 infants at birth and the blood products given were 96% and 95%, respectively. The incidence of acquired CMV infection was 4/100 (4%) in the transfused group: 2/80 (2.5%) and 2/20 (10%) in the filtered-irradiated and nonfiltered-nonirradiated transfusion groups, respectively. Approximately 9-10 months elapsed to clear passively acquired CMV IgG. The irradiation and filtering of the blood products did not seem to decrease the transfusion-related CMV infection rate in Korea among VLBWI, however, further validation is recommended in a larger cohort of infants.

Keyword

Cytomegalovirus; Blood Transfusion; Infant, Very Low Birth Weight

MeSH Terms

Antibodies, Viral/blood
Blood Donors
Blood Transfusion/*adverse effects/methods
Comparative Study
Cytomegalovirus/immunology/isolation & purification/radiation effects
Cytomegalovirus Infections/blood/prevention & control/*transmission
Female
Filtration/methods
Humans
Immunoglobulin G/blood
Immunoglobulin M/blood
Infant, Newborn
Infant, Very Low Birth Weight/*blood
Intensive Care Units, Neonatal
Linear Models
Male
Time Factors

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Relationship between CMV IgG titer and gestational age at birth.

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  Fig. 2 Changes of serum CMV IgG over time among transfused VLBWI.

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  Fig. 3 Changes of serum CMV IgG over time among nontransfused VLBWI.

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  Fig. 4 Changes of serum CMV IgG among all VLBWI.

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