[Cytomegalovirus infections in dialysis patients]

In 42 patients from our chronic haemodialysis programme (21 men, 21 women at an average age of 39.1 +/- 2.1 years and with an average period of dialysis of 20.5 +/- 3.5 months) IgG and IgM antibodies against CMV late antigens and IgG antibodies against CMV early antigens were estimated; in 42 healthy subjects with the same age and sex structure IgG antigens against CMV late antigens were estimated. No difference in antibody prevalence was found between the two groups; around 80% of those examined had suffered an infection with CMV. Whereas primary infections are not significant in dialysis patients, reactivations of latent CMV infections, which can be accompanied by the most varying symptoms, seem to occur more frequently. Transplantats from seropositive donors are dangerous for seronegative patients.