IgM Levels, Specific IgM Antibodies and Liver Involvement in Cytomegalovirus Infection: Report of 17 Patients

Abstract

IgM cytomegalovirus (CMV) antibody titres, immunoglobulin levels and liver function were determined in sera of 17 adults with a virologically and/or serologically proven CMV infection. There seems to be a fairly good correlation between IgM levels and presence of IgM CMV-antibodies in acute stage disease. IgM levels were found to be elevated in 10 out of 13 patients with IgM CMV-antibodies, and normal in the remaining 3 patients with and in all of 4 patients without IgM CMV-antibodies. Specific IgM antibodies could persist for months after the infection while IgM levels declined to the normal range in about 6 weeks. IgM antibodies may well be correlated with liver function disturbance, as liver function was found abnormal in 13 patients, 12 of whom had specific IgM antibodies and 10 elevated IgM levels.