Seroprevalence of cytomegalovirus infection in the patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a member of herpesvirus family with high prevalence in the normal population, which can lead to life-threatening latent infection. This virus has potential oncogenicity and can be reactivated in terms of immune suppression. This study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of CMV in the patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

To determine CMV prevalence, serum samples were collected from CLL patients after establishment of diagnosis by oncologist in Imam Khomeini Hospital, Urmia, Iran as well as from age-matched healthy subjects as control group. A total of 65 study participants, 33 males and 32 females, were included in this study in two groups, study group (n=31) and control group (n=34). All serum samples were tested for CMV-specific IgG and IgM antibodies using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 16.0. Student's t-test and Chi-square test were used for comparison of variables and between the categorical variables, respectively. The statistical significance considered as P < 0.05.

 The prevalence of CMV infection in all participants was 84.6%. The prevalence of CMV current infection (IgM positive) and previous infection (IgG positive only) were respectively 29.03% and 70.97% in the patient group and 97.05% and 2.95% in the control group.   

 Based on our results, previous exposure to CMV was significantly higher in the CLL patients compared with the control group. Good treatment and care strategies for the CLL patients can play an important role in preventing the reactivation of latent viral infections. Further studies and longtime monitoring should be done to know the factors affecting the reactivation of latent CMV infection and other latent viral infections in the CLL patients.