Cytomegalovirus

CMV affects a large proportion of the world's population. While the primary infection often goes unnoticed, the virus poses a considerable risk in both, its latent and chronic form.

CMV is particularly dangerous for immunocompromised people and pregnant women, in whom the virus can cause serious complications. But even in healthy people, chronic CMV infections are increasingly suspected of promoting long-term illnesses.

CMV is transmitted through body fluids such as saliva, blood, urine and breast milk. The clinical manifestations are wide-ranging:

Acute infections:

• Non-specific symptoms such as fever, muscle aches, fatigue and flu-like symptoms often occur

Chronic diseases:

• General exhaustion and fatigue:
  Chronic fatigue is a frequently reported symptom and can have a significant impact on quality of life

• Neurological symptoms:
  Memory problems, poor concentration and increased susceptibility to depression are increasingly associated with CMV

• Autoimmune diseases:
  Chronic CMV is suspected of exacerbating autoimmune processes such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus. Metabolic disorders: A link to insulin resistance and diabetes mellitus has been observed in studies

• Tumor associations:
  CMV is increasingly associated with the development and progression of certain tumor types (glioblastomas, colorectal carcinomas, breast carcinomas, prostate carcinomas, carcinomas in immunocompromised patients (Post-Covid, organ transplant and HIV patients have an increased risk of CMV-associated tumors).

• Cardiovascular diseases:
  Chronic CMV infections are associated with arteriosclerosis and an increased risk of heart attacks

The often underestimated long-term consequences of a chronic CMV infection make a differentiated diagnosis and close monitoring crucial.

The CMV EliSpot is a highly specific method for assessing the cellular immune response. As an interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA), this test offers numerous advantages that are particularly important for the assessment of chronic CMV progression.

• Measurement of T effector cells: The EliSpot measures the activity of T effector cells that play a key role in the immune defense against CMV; this allows an accurate assessment of the body's immune response to the virus
• Visualization of pathogen activity: By measuring the release of interferon-gamma, the EliSpot provides direct information about the current activity of the pathogen, a decisive factor in distinguishing between latent and active infections
• Significant for chronic progression: Chronic CMV infections are often difficult to diagnose, as the symptoms are non-specific and conventional tests cannot distinguish between an active and a latent infection; the EliSpot method provides a clear answer here and supports targeted therapy planning
• Difference between lytic and latent antigens: The EliSpot includes both lytic and latent viral antigens, which are essential to obtain a complete picture of disease activity

In addition to our EliSpot test, we also offer specific antibody tests. Due to possible immune deficiencies in chronically ill patients, it is advisable to test the humoral and cellular immune response in parallel.

IgG and IgM antibody tests enable the basic assessment of a current or past CMV infection. This test provides decisive information on the humoral immune response and optimally complements the results of the EliSpot test.

CMV diagnostics can be completed with an analysis of natural killer cells. Clinical research and case studies have shown that chronic and persistent infections are accompanied by changes in the cellular and humoral immune defense. The reduced absolute number of activated natural killer cells (CD3-CD56+CD57+) can be used to visualize chronic intracellular infection of the immune system.

Our combined diagnostics of EliSpot, antibody test and immune status provides:

• A comprehensive assessment of the immune system
• The ability to clearly distinguish between active and latent infections
• Important

Stay one step ahead - Learn more about our CMV diagnostic solutions and how they can optimize your clinical results. You may also wish to use our automated symptom checklists to pre-analyze the need for CMV diagnostics.