Positive Epstein-Barr virus and cytomegalovirus IgM assays in primary HIV infection.

Abstract

We report three cases with misleading cytomegalovirus (CMV) or Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) immunoglobulin M (IgM) results during primary human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. We determined the rate of positive anti-CMV IgM assays or anti-EBV capsid antigen IgM assays in sera from a group of well-characterized subjects with primary HIV infection as 2.9% (1/35; 95%CI: 0.15-16.6%) for each infection. The rate of positive anti-EBV capsid antigen IgM assays in subjects with positive hepatitis A virus IgM assays was 30% (6/20; 95%CI: 14.6-51.9%). Clinicians need to consider the limitations of IgM assays for diagnosis of herpesvirus infections, and consider testing for other infections with overlapping clinical manifestations.

• Authors: Jeffrey J Post, Mun Khin Chan, L Ross Whybin, Qin Shi, William D Rawlinson, Philip Cunningham, Peter W Robertson
• Journal: Journal of medical virology (J Med Virol) Vol. 83 Issue 8 Pg. 1406-9 (Aug 2011) ISSN: 1096-9071 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 21678445 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Viral
• Hepatitis A Antibodies
• Immunoglobulin M

Topics

• Adult
• Antibodies, Viral (blood)
• Cytomegalovirus (immunology)
• Cytomegalovirus Infections (diagnosis)
• False Positive Reactions
• Female
• HIV Infections (complications)
• Hepatitis A Antibodies (blood)
• Herpesviridae Infections (diagnosis)
• Herpesvirus 4, Human (immunology)
• Humans
• Immunoglobulin M (blood)
• Male
• Pregnancy