Anti-HCMV IgG positivity rate among renal transplant recipients in Baghdad

Abstract EN

In developing countries, the majority of infection by human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) occurs during childhood and continues as a latent infection.

By adulthood, almost all the population may show anti-HCMV IgG as positive.

This study was undertaken to determine the correlation between the prevalence of HCMV antibodies and HCMV infection during post transplant period among renal transplant patients in Baghdad.

43 renal transplant patients attending three renal transplantation centers, and 40 healthy individuals who served as controls were enrolled in this study.

18 (41.9%) were transplanted recently and they were under post-operative follow-up and 25 (58.1%) were transplanted more than one year ago.

Detection of anti-HCMV IgG was carried out using enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA).

The results revealed that anti- HCMV IgG was significantly higher among renal transplant recipients compared to healthy controls (97.7% vs 85%, P = 0.04).

The anti-HCMV IgG positivity rate was not affected by patients’ age, sex, and duration after transplantation or immunosuppressive therapy.

We conclude that the high anti-HCMV IgG positivity rate among Iraqi renal transplant recipients make them prone to considerable risk of reactivation of HCMV infection