THE SEROPREVALENCE OF HUMAN CYTOMEGALOVIRUS ANTIBODIES AMONGST HEALTHY BLOOD DONORS AND PATIENTS WITH HAEMATOLOGIC MALIGNANCIES IN LASUTH, IKEJA

Abstract

Background: With improvement in the management of cancer patients, viral infections have
become important complications affecting morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to
determine the susceptibility of patients with haematological malignancies in Lagos State
University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja (LASUTH) to Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV)
infection through blood transfusion.
Methods: A cross-sectional case control study was carried out among healthy blood donors
attending the blood donor clinic and patients with confirmed haematological malignancies
seen in the haematology clinic, medical and surgical wards of the Lagos State University
Teaching Hospital, Ikeja (LASUTH). A 5 ml blood sample was collected from each
consenting participant and the serum was assayed for HCMV IgG and HCMV IgM using an
enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)-based kit.
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Results: A total of 148 participants were recruited into the study consisting of 72 patients
with haematologic malignancy and 76 healthy blood donors. The seroprevalence of anti
HCMV IgG was similar in both patients with haematologic malignancies and healthy blood
donors (98.6% and 94.7% respectively) while a higher anti HCMV IgM seropositivity was
seen in patients with haematologic malignancies (26.4%) compared to the healthy blood
donors (9.2%).
A history of blood transfusion was not significantly related to CMV seropositivity (p= 0.791).
Conclusion: In blood donors, routine screen for HCMV is not necessary because of a high
anti-HCMV IgG reported in them.There is a high anti-HCMV IgG amongst patients with
haematological malignancies irrespective of a history of blood transfusion or not. This may
be a reflection of high anti-CMV IgG in the general population.

THE SEROPREVALENCE OF HUMAN CYTOMEGALOVIRUS ANTIBODIES AMONGST HEALTHY BLOOD DONORS AND PATIENTS WITH HAEMATOLOGIC MALIGNANCIES IN LASUTH, IKEJA