[Cytomegalovirus infections in healthy adults.].

BACKGROUND

Primary cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections in healthy adults are considered extremely rare. To study the extent of this problem in Iceland we undertook a two year (1989-1990) retrospective study of all new CMV infections in adults.

METHODS

All positive tests for CMV antibodies in clinical samples (194) were identified in the sole virology laboratory in Iceland. Patients younger than 16 years and all patients with underlying diseases that could cause immunosuppression were excluded (154). The 40 remaining patients were contacted, their case histories reviewed and their serology for CMV, Epstein-Barr and HIV antibodies remeasured. Primary CMV infection was not confirmed in 14 patients leaving 26 immune competent patients who fullfilled our criteria for primary sym-tomatic CMV infection by the presence of IgM anti-CMV antibodies.

RESULTS

Duration of illness in the 26 study patients varied from 1 to 25 weeks, usually 7-10 weeks. Fifteen patients were hospitalized. Diagnostic delay was considerable. Immunological tests (DTH skin test, serum immunoglobulines and lymphocyte differential counts) done 172-2 years after the illness did nor reveal any persistent immune abnormalities except for an absolute increase in the number of CD8+ T lymphocytes

Conclusions

We conclude that primary CMV infections in adults are not uncommon and probably underdiagnosed. When adult patients present with non-specific symptoms such as low grade fever, malaise and unexplained fatigue, CMV should be considered or excluded with appropriate serological tests.