Transfusion-Transmitted Cytomegalovirus: The Part-Time Pathogen

Abstract

Viral infection is a well-known risk of blood product transfusion and much work has been devoted to the detection of such well-known pathogens as human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis viruses in blood donors. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is found in a much larger percentage of donor units than these other viruses but will cause disease in only a minority of recipients. Many pediatric patients (especially premature infants) are at risk for transfusion-transmitted CMV. This review describes work delineating the populations of patients most at risk for transfusion-transmitted CMV, describes methods for detecting CMV in blood donors, evaluates current methods for leukodepletion of blood products, and provides recommendations for patients most likely to benefit from blood products with low risk of CMV transmission.

Key Words:

• blood
• cytomegalovirus
• immune suppression transfusion
• virus