CMV retinitis
Alternative names:
chorioretinitis
Symptoms:
Signs and tests:
CMV retinitis is diagnosed through a standard ophthalmologic
exam. Dilation of the pupils and indirect ophthalmoscopy
will show signs of CMV retinitis. Diagnosis of CMV infection
can be made through the following tests:
- Blood or urine culture:
a blood or urine sample is cultured to see if it will grow
the virus in the laboratory. Results take as long as three
weeks.
- CMV PCR: this is a blood test that detects the presence
of and amount of CMV in the blood.
- CMV antigenemia test: this blood test detects the viral
particles on the surface of white blood cells. This can
indicate if the virus is replicating in the body or is inactive.
- CMV serology: this
test detects CMV antibodies in the blood. Most people have
two types of antibodies, IgG (which indicate old infection)
and IgM (which indicate new infection).
- Tissue biopsy for
culture: a biopsy of the tissue (often from the lung or
stomach) that CMV is thought to have infected is cultured
in the laboratory to see if it will grow the virus. This
tissue can also be examined in the laboratory for evidence
of viral infection and presence of CMV viral particles.
Update Date: 04/01/00
Updated By: Luis A. Diaz, Jr. M.D., Johns Hopkins Medical Institute, VeriMed
Health Network
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