3049. PCR. Cytomegalovirus (CSF, qualitative determination)

PCR analysis of cerebrospinal fluid allows qualitative determination of cytomegalovirus DNA in the CNS. The method is used for diagnosis of CMV encephalitis, meningitis, CNS lesions in newborns, HIV-infected patients and patients with immunosuppression.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV, HHV-5) is one of the most common representatives of human herpesviruses, which has the ability to persist in the body for life. The infection is mostly asymptomatic, but when immunity is reduced (in newborns, HIV-infected, cancer patients, after transplantation) it can cause severe lesions.

CMV is able to infect almost all cells of the body, including the endothelium, epithelium, fibroblasts, and neurons. In case of activation, the virus penetrates through the blood-brain barrier, provoking damage to the central nervous system with the development of meningoencephalitis, myelitis, radiculopathy, etc.

PCR analysis of cerebrospinal fluid is one of the most informative and sensitive methods of direct diagnosis of cytomegalovirus infection of the central nervous system.

It allows:

• will detect CMV DNA even at a low viral load;
• will confirm neuroinfection of CMV etiology;
• differentiate CMV from other viral or bacterial causes of neurological symptoms.

This test is appropriate for:

• unexplained neurological manifestations (headache, nausea, confusion, convulsions, paresis);
• laboratory signs of inflammation in the cerebrospinal fluid;
• suspicion of congenital CMV infection in newborns;
• immunodeficiency states, when the risk of CMV activation increases significantly.

The method allows timely detection of CMV damage to the nervous system and initiation of targeted antiviral therapy, which is critically important for the prognosis.

• patients with suspicion of CMV encephalitis / meningitis – especially with immunosuppression (HIV, post-transplantation, oncological processes);
• a newborn with manifestations of CNS disease or with suspicion of congenital CMV infection;
• pregnant – with clinical manifestations and suspicion of vertical transmission;
• for differential diagnosis of neuroinfections with unexplained etiology;
• with a sharp deterioration of the neurological condition of a patient with known CMV status or IgG seropositivity.

• Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)

The sampling should be done by your doctor. Deliver collected biomaterial to the laboratory for testing.