Prevalence of Cytomegalovirus Infections in the Terminally Failing Hearts from Korean Patients

Choe, Seong Choon; Kim, Hyo Soo; Oh, Byung Hee; Lee, Myoung Mook; Choi, Hyun Seok; Kim, Yong Jin; Sohn, Dae Won; Park, Young Bae; Choi, Yun Shik; Seo, Jung Don; Lee, Young Woo

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
In order to evaluate the prevalence of cytomegalovirus infection to terminally failing heart, cytomegaloviral DNA was detected in the explanted hearts of transplantation recipients.
METHODS
DNA extractions were performed from explanted failing hearts(N=22) and normal hearts (N=5) and polymerase chain reactions(PCRs) were done for detection of late gene sequence coded pp150 phosphoprotein. The products were confirmed with electrophoresis on 1% agarose gel. In order to improve the sensitivity of detection in cytomegaloviral genome, nested PCRs were executed with the primers designed for the original 607 bp products.
RESULTS
All patients had IgG anti-cytomegalovirus antibody and did not have IgM anti-cytomegalovirus antibody. Cytomegaloviral genomes in myocardium were detected by polymerase chain reaction. The 607bp products by PCRs were found in both explanted failing hearts(3 cases/22, 13.5%) and normal hearts(1 case/5, 20.0%). In nested PCRs, 186bp products were found in both failing hearts(LV 4/22, LA 3/20, RV 5/22, HA 0/17) and normal hearts(LV 2/5, LA 1/4, RV 1/5, RA 2/5). There was no significant change in the presence of cytomegaloviral DNA between failing and normal hearts. Total positivity of cytomegaloviral genome in explanted hearts was 44.4% according to nested PCR results.
CONCLUSION
Cytomegalovirus was rarely observed in explanted hearts of terminal heart failure and nested PCR could enhance the sensitivity of cytomegaloviral genome detection. But cytomegalovirus might have no direct causal relationship in the development of terminal heart failure.