Detection of cytomegalovirus(CMV) immediate early antigen in kidney biopsies and transplant nephrectomies

Objective: To investigate the relationship between CMV infection and renal allograft rejection. Methods: 39 kidney biopsies and transplant nephrectomies were collected and investigated for CMV immediate early antigen by immunohistochemistry. Results: In 14 out of 39 tissue specimens CMV immediate early antigen were found. 8 biopsies from normal donor kidneys were negative; only 1 (10%) in 10 tissue specimens with early stage acute rejection was positive; 5 (55.6%) in 9 biopsies with late stage acute rejection and 8 (66.7%) in 12 tissue blocks with chronic rejection were positive. Compared with normal kidney tissues, the infections in tissues with early stage acute rejection didn't increase obviously, but increased obviously in kidney tissue specimens with late stage rejection and with chronic rejection (P<0.05). Conclusion: CMV infection appears to contribute to late stage acute rejection and chronic rejection after renal transplantation.