[Physiopathology of cytomegalovirus infections]

Since more than fifteen years ago, the occurrence of Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections in transfused patients has incriminated blood as a potential vehicle for CMV transmission, resulting in post-transfusion mononucleosis (PTM). Although only Diosi and al. (1969) reported viraemia in two of 35 asymptomatic blood donors, CMV was not recovered from any leukocyte specimen of numerous healthy blood bank donors, assayed by cocultivation of undisrupted buffy coat with a virus sensitive monolayer of human fibroblasts. Nevertheless numerous experimental studies have shown that CMV might persist in very low titer or in a latent state in mononuclear leukocytes in monocytes and macrophages and in lymphocytes. A better knowledge of the site an mechanisms of latency should help to control CMV transmission by fresh and bank blood or transfusion of viable leukocytes.