Background: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is frequent in HIV adults. It is unknown usefulness of quantitative methods for diagnosing the CMV disease in Chilean patients.
Aim: To determine the performance of antigenemia and real time polymerase chain reaction (rtPCR) in the diagnosis of CMV disease in Chilean HIV adults.
Method: Detection of CMV by viral isolation (AVR), antigenemia and quantitative rtPCR in HIV adults.
Results: The 102 adults with suspected CMV disease had lower LTCD4 count and higher HIV viral load than 77 patients without suspicion (p < 0.05). Antigenemia and PCR were positive in 47 (46.1%) and 37 (36.3%) adults with clinical suspicion and in 2 (2.6%) and 4 (5.2%) of 77 without suspicion. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value of antigenemia and RPCtr were 92%, 80%, 72% and 95% and 72%, 95%, 92% and 80%, respectively. The cutoff values were ≥ lcell (+) and ≥ 5.5 log10 copies/2 x 10(6) cells. CMV was isolated in 6/179 patients (3.4%), all symptomatic.
Conclusion: Positivity of antigenemia and rtPCR are similar for diagnosing CMV disease in Chilean HIV adults. AVR is inappropriate as a gold standard for its low performance.