PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

J F Bernaudin

Publications and source records attributed to J F Bernaudin.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Galectin-3 immunodetection in follicular thyroid neoplasms: a prospective study on fine-needle aspiration samples.

Fine-needle aspiration cytology, which is well established to be accurate for the diagnosis of thyroid cancer, may be inconclusive for the follicular thyroid neoplasms. As galectin-3 was suggested to be a marker of malignant thyrocytes, we investigated whether this protein might be helpful in the diagnosis of aspirates classified as undeterminate by cytology. After establishing an easy processing of aspirates for galectin-3 immunodetection, a series of aspirates categorised as benign (n=63), malignant (n=17) or undeterminate (n=34) was prospectively analysed for galectin-3. Only the patients with malignant or undeterminate lesions underwent surgery. Most lesions (86%) diagnosed as malignant by cytology or after surgery were positive for galectin-3. The majority of lesions (94%) classified as benign by cytology or after surgery was negative for galectin-3. The positive and negative predictive values were 83 and 95%, respectively. When focusing on the undeterminate lesions, the sensitivity and specificity were 75 and 90%, respectively, while the positive and negative predictive values were 82 and 87%, respectively. The specificity and the positive predictive value were higher (100%) when considering the percentage of stained cells. Altogether these results show that galectin-3 constitutes a useful marker in the diagnosis of thyroid lesions classified as undeterminate by conventional cytology.

Adenocarcinoma, Follicular↗
PubMed2005

[Combined flow cytometry determination of S-phase fraction and DNA ploidy is an independent prognostic factor in node-negative invasive breast carcinoma: review of a series of 271 patients with stage I and II breast cancer].

PURPOSE: To assess the significance of S-phase fraction (SPF) and DNA ploidy evaluated by DNA flow cytometry as prognostic markers in stage I or II breast cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A series of 271 patients, treated by surgery, radiotherapy+/-systemic therapy was analysed (median follow up: 64 months). Standardized flow cytometry cell preparation from frozen samples and consensus rules for data interpretation were followed. Three SPF classes were defined on the basis of tertiles after adjustment for ploidy. Four groups were defined based on combinations of DNA ploidy (DIP: diploid; ANEUP: aneuploid) and SPF: DIP and low SPF (DL, N=37), DIP and medium or high SPF (DMH, N=76), ANEUP and low SPF (AL, N=24), ANEUP and medium or high SPF (AMH, N=68). Local control rate (LCR), disease-free survival (DFS), metastasis-free survival (MFS), and overall survival (OS) were correlated with DNA ploidy, SPF, DL to AMH groups, T and N stages, SBR grading, age, and hormonal status on univariate and multivariate analysis (Cox model). RESULTS: On univariate analysis, DFS and LCR were higher for DIP tumours. High SPF values were associated with shorter DFS. LCR, MFS, DFS, and OS rates were significantly different with an increasingly poorer prognosis from DL to AMH. On multivariate analysis, groups DL to AMH, histological node involvement and T stage were independently associated with MFS, and DFS. In N- patients, DL to AMH remained independent for MFS and DFS. For SBR III tumours, MFS and OS were significantly different in DL to AMH groups. These results strongly support the use of combined evaluation of DNA ploidy and SPF as independent parameters in clinical trials for N- stage I and II breast cancer.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed2004

[Micro-metastases and non-small cell lung cancer].

INTRODUCTION: Non-small cell lung cancer has a poor prognosis, including those with operable, apparently localised, disease. Preoperative staging investigations and histo-pathological analysis are poor at detecting small clusters of tumour cells, particularly in lymph nodes. STATE OF THE ART: New methods based on immunohistochemistry, or molecular biology, have been developed to detect these so-called micro-metastases. We present a ten-year review of the literature published on this topic. PERSPECTIVE: These publications primarily reported on the detection of micro-metastases within mediastinal lymph nodes removed at operation in order to identify patients at risk of recurrence, for whom adjuvant therapy might be offered. CONCLUSIONS: Lymph node micro-metastases have been demonstrated to be an independent prognostic factor for survival, especially in stage I patients. On the other hand, the presence of bone marrow micro-metastases did not appear to be of significant prognostic value in non-small-cell lung cancer. Finally, the clinical relevance of circulating tumour cells is still debatable, although recent published studies show interesting results.

Bone Marrow Neoplasms↗
PubMed2004

Multidrug resistance-associated protein MRP1 expression in human gliomas: chemosensitization to vincristine and etoposide by indomethacin in human glioma cell lines overexpressing MRP1.

The 190 kDa multidrug resistance protein MRP1 is likely to be involved in the multidrug resistance phenotype of human gliomas. MRP1 expression was evaluated in surgical tumor samples from 17 patients with gliomas. In addition, the impact of the MRP's inhibitor, indomethacin, on the chemosensitivity to etoposide (VP16) and vincristine (VCR) of two glioblastoma cell lines expressing MRP1 (GL15 and 8MG) was investigated. When evaluated in tumor samples, MRP1 expression was observed in all of them with more than 90% of stained tumor cells in 14/15 high-grade gliomas. MRP1 was also strongly expressed at the membrane of the vascular endothelial cells in the same 14 tumor samples, suggesting that the permeability to anticancer drugs could be also limited across brain tumor vessels. At concentrations comprised between 5 and 50 microM, indomethacin significantly increased the cytotoxic effect of etoposide in both cell lines but it was more efficient in increasing the cytotoxicity of VCR on GL15 cells, as compared with 8MG cells. These results suggest that the association of indomethacin to VCR or etoposide could be of interest in the clinical management of gliomas.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗
PubMed2001

Spectrum of CD4 to CD8 T-cell ratios in lymphocytic alveolitis associated with methotrexate-induced pneumonitis.

The present study was conducted to confirm the presence of severe lymphocytic alveolitis and to determine the factors responsible for the very different alveolar CD4 to CD8 T-cell ratios (CD4/ CD8) described in methotrexate-induced pneumonitis (MTX-pneumonitis). Clinical and radiologic findings, as well as bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) data, including CD4 and CD8 subset analysis, were retrospectively reviewed for patients hospitalized between 1985 and 2000 for MTX-pneumonitis. BAL cell counts from patients with MTX-pneumonitis (cases) were compared with those from patients receiving MTX but who did not have evidence of MTX toxicity (MTX-exposed patients) and those from healthy subjects (control subjects). Nineteen BAL were performed in 14 consecutive cases of MTX-pneumonitis. MTX was given for various underlying diseases. All cases presented a subacute diffuse interstitial pneumonitis that recovered, with MTX discontinuation and/or initiation of adjunctive steroid therapy. At the time of diagnosis, BAL cell counts in MTX-pneumonitis indicated severe lymphocytic alveolitis when compared with MTX-exposed patients and control subjects and moderate neutrophil alveolitis compared with control subjects. The lymphocytic alveolitis resulted from an increase in both CD4 and CD8 lymphocyte cell counts. Nevertheless, alveolar CD4/ CD8 T-cell ratios ranged from 0.4 to 9.6. CD4/CD8 values correlated positively with lymphocyte counts but negatively with time elapsed between last MTX administration and BAL and with steroid cumulative dose received by the patients. Severe lymphocytic alveolitis was confirmed in our series of MTX-pneumonitis. The between-patient variation in CD4/CD8 T-cell ratios may reflect the large range of time intervals between last MTX administration and BAL evaluation and the use of adjunctive steroid therapy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Blood and alveolar lymphocyte subsets in pulmonary cytomegalovirus infection after lung transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) pneumonitis has been shown to be associated with lymphocytic alveolitis after lung transplantation. In the present study, we investigated a series of bronchoalveolar (BAL) and blood samples, collected in the absence of rejection or acute infectious episodes. in order -1: to evaluate intra-alveolar cell population changes concomitant with CMV replication and -2: to reappraise the value of cell population analysis in the management of patients after lung transplantation. METHODS: We used flow cytometry to investigate modifications of lymphocyte subpopulations related to pulmonary cytomegalovirus infections in blood and BAL samples from a series of 13 lung transplant recipients. After exclusion of samples obtained during pulmonary rejection, bronchiolitis obliterans or acute bacterial infection, 48 blood and BAL samples were retained for analysis: 17 were CMV positive by shell-vial assay and 31 were CMV negative in blood and BAL. RESULTS: Our results demonstrate that pulmonary CMV infection is associated with a significant increase in the total lymphocyte population in BAL samples, but with minor modifications of the various lymphocyte subpopulations and a significantly higher absolute number of B lymphocytes in blood samples. CONCLUSIONS: Cytomegalovirus pulmonary infection is accompanied by only minor changes in BAL lymphocyte subpopulations. The study of BAL lymphocyte subpopulations therefore appears to be of limited clinical value in the diagnosis of pulmonary CMV infection. However, increased blood B-lymphocytes seems to be a clinical feature associated with CMV infection.

Bronchoalveolar Lavage↗
PubMed2001

Glycoconjugate metabolism in a cystic fibrosis knockout mouse model.

Cystic fibrosis knockout mice (cftr(-/-)) die prematurely of obstruction of the intestine which may result from accumulation of dehydrated glycoconjugate-containing mucus. We noted an increase in the specific activity of [(14)C]glucosamine-labeled high-molecular weight glycoconjugates, probably mucin, in the lumen of the intestine of cftr(-/-) (homozygous) mice compared to cftr(+/+) (wild-type) and cftr(+/-) (heterozygous) mice and a decrease in the turnover of glycoconjugates of several organs of the cftr(-/-) mice. No difference in the anionic composition of secreted intestinal glycoconjugates was detected and no difference in the amount of mucin 1 (Muc1) was found in the small intestine, colon, pancreas, and lungs of the different genotypes. In addition, the spleen of the cftr(-/-) mice was significantly smaller than that of control mice and the small intestine and colon were, respectively, longer and shorter compared to control mice. These results indicate modified glycoconjugate metabolism in cystic fibrosis knockout mice and morphologic changes to the spleen and intestine where the latter modifications are possibly related to the intestinal malabsorption associated with cystic fibrosis.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Detection of codon 12 K-ras mutations in non-neoplastic mucosa from bronchial carina in patients with lung adenocarcinomas.

K-ras activation by point mutation in codon 12 has been reported in lung adenocarcinomas in various models of experimental lung tumours induced by chemical carcinogens. The hypothesis of the presence of cells containing K-ras mutation in non neoplastic bronchial carina, the main site of impaction of airborne contaminants, was investigated by evaluating concurrent lung tumour and non-neoplastic proximal bronchial carinae from 19 patients with lung adenocarcinomas. The restriction fragment length polymorphism enriched PCR method used can detect one mutant allele among 10(3) normal alleles. A mutation was detected in 42% of lung adenocarcinoma samples. No mutation was detected in either tumour or bronchial carinae in nine patients (47%). K-ras mutation was detected in the lung tumour but not in bronchial carinae in four patients (21%), in both the lung tumour and bronchial carinae in four other patients (21%). In two patients (11%), K-ras mutation was detected in at least one bronchial carina, but not in the lung tumour. Mutations of codon 12, confirmed by sequencing analysis of ten samples, were G to T transversion, mostly TGT and GTT in bronchial carinae and lung tumours. Our data show that activated K-ras by point mutation can be present in non-neoplastic bronchial carina mucosa even when no mutation is detected in tumour samples.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed2000

CFTR, MDR1, and MRP1 immunolocalization in normal human nasal respiratory mucosa.

CFTR (cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator), MDR1 (multidrug resistance), and MRP1 (multidrug resistance-associated protein), members of the ABC transporter superfamily, possess multiple functions, particularly Cl(-), anion, and glutathione conjugate transport and cell detoxification. They are also hypothesized to have a number of complementary functions. It is generally accepted that data obtained from nasal mucosa can be extrapolated to lower airway cell physiology. The aim of the present study was to investigate by immunohistochemistry the differential localization of CFTR, MDR1, and MRP1 in the normal mucosa of 10 human nasal turbinates. In ciliated epithelial cells, CFTR was inconstantly expressed at the apical cell surface, intense membranous labeling was observed for MDR1, and intense cytoplasmic labeling was observed for MRP1. In the glands, a higher level of expression was observed on serous cells, at the apical surface (for CFTR), on lateral membranes (for MDR1), and with an intracytoplasmic distribution (for MRP1). In conclusion, CFTR, MDR1 and MRP1 are expressed in the epithelium and glands of the nasal respiratory mucosa, but with different patterns of expression. These results suggest major roles for CFTR, MDR1, and MRP1 in serous glandular cells and a protective function for MDR1 and MRP1 in respiratory ciliated cells. (J Histochem Cytochem 48:1215-1222, 2000)

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗
PubMed2000

p53 gene status as a predictor of tumor response to induction chemotherapy of patients with locoregionally advanced squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck.

PURPOSE: To determine whether p53 gene status predicts tumor responses to platinum- and fluorouracil-based induction chemotherapy in locoregionally advanced squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Tumor responses of 105 patients were measured at the primary tumor site. Objective response and major response were defined by a 50% and 80% reduction in tumor size, respectively. All coding parts of p53 gene were directly sequenced. p53 expression in tumor cells was determined by immunohistochemistry. Human papillomavirus infection was detected by polymerase chain reaction. Odd ratios were adjusted by stepwise logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: p53 mutations, p53 expression, and tumor stage were sufficient to explain the variation in tumor responses to chemotherapy in multivariate models. p53 mutation was the only variable to significantly predict objective response (odds ratio, 0. 23; 95% confidence interval, 0.10 to 0.57; P =.002) and was the strongest predictor of major response (odds ratio, 0.29; 95% confidence interval, 0.11 to 0.74; P =.006). p53 expression (odds ratio, 0.39; 95% confidence interval, 0.16 to 0.98) and tumor stage (odds ratio, 0.31; 95% confidence interval, 0.10 to 0.96) also predicted major response. Specific mutations (contact mutations) accounted for much of the reduction in the risk of major response associated with overall mutations. In complementary analyses, p53 expression was weakly predictive of major response in the subgroup with wild-type p53, and p53 mutations also predicted histologic response. CONCLUSION: p53 gene mutations are strongly associated with a poor risk of both objective and major responses to chemotherapy. Contact mutations are associated with the lowest risk of major response to chemotherapy.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

AIDS-related Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in the era of adjunctive steroids: implication of BAL neutrophilia.

Factors predictive of mortality in patients with AIDS and Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) were identified before the introduction of adjunctive steroids, but they have not been reevaluated since. Because PCP still occurs in AIDS, remaining fatal in some cases, we conducted a multivariate analysis of factors predicting mortality in patients with HIV-positive PCP managed from 1990 to 1995, i.e., after the consensus conference on the use of adjunctive steroids. The predictive value of clinical, laboratory, and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) data at admission and during the course of PCP was studied retrospectively using multivariate methods, in 144 patients with AIDS. Overall mortality was 21.5%. The univariate analysis identified seven factors predictive of 90-d mortality: Pa(O(2)) on room air < 60 mm Hg, lactate dehydrogenase > 1,000 IU, albuminemia < 30 g/L, BAL neutrophilia > 10%, nosocomial infection, pneumothorax, and a need for mechanical ventilation. Four of these factors were independently associated with 90-d mortality in the multivariate analysis; among them, two were evaluable at admission, namely, Pa(O(2)) < 60 mm Hg on room air and BAL neutrophilia > 10%, and two during hospitalization, namely, the development of pneumothorax and a need for mechanical ventilation. Moreover, BAL neutrophilia was correlated to occurrence of pneumothorax and a need for mechanical ventilation. In the era of adjunctive steroid use, AIDS-related PCP remains fairly common. Two independent factors evaluable at admission, Pa(O(2)) on room air and BAL neutrophilia, are predictive of death.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed1999

Immunohistochemical distribution of inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor chains in normal and malignant human lung tissue.

The inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor (ITI) family is a group of plasma proteins built up from heavy (HC1, HC2, HC3) and light (bikunin) chains synthesized in the liver. In this study we determined the distribution of ITI constitutive chains in normal and cancerous lung tissues using polyclonal antibodies. In normal lung tissue, H2, H3, and bikunin chains were found in polymorphonuclear cells, whereas H1 and bikunin proteins were found in mast cells. Bikunin was further observed in bronchoepithelial mucous cells. In lung carcinoma, similar findings were obtained on infiltrating polymorphonuclear and mast cells surrounding the tumor islets. Highly differentiated cancerous cells displayed strong intracytoplasmic staining with H1 and bikunin antiserum in both adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Moreover, weak but frequent H2 expression was observed in adenocarcinoma cells, whereas no H3-related protein could be detected in cancer cells. Local lung ITI expression was confirmed by RT-PCR. Although the respective role of inflammatory and tumor cells in ITI chain synthesis cannot be presently clarified, these results show that heavy chains as well as bikunin are involved in malignant transformation of lung tissue.(J Histochem Cytochem 47:1625-1632, 1999)

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1998

Comparative evaluation by semiquantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction of MDR1, MRP and GSTp gene expression in breast carcinomas.

Identification and quantitative evaluation of drug resistance markers are essential to assess the impact of multidrug resistance (MDR) in clinical oncology. The MDR1 gene confers pleiotropic drug resistance in tumour cells, but other molecular mechanisms are also involved in drug resistance. In particular, the clinical pattern of expression of the other MDR-related genes is unclear and their interrelationships are still unknown. Here, we report standardization of the procedures used to determine a reliable method of semiquantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using a standard series of drug-sensitive and increasingly resistant cell lines to evaluate the expression of three MDR-related genes, i.e. MDR1 (multidrug resistance gene 1), MRP (multidrug resistance related protein) and GSTp (glutathione-S-transferase p), reported to be endogenous standard genes for normalization of mRNAs. A total of 74 breast cancer surgical biopsies, obtained before any treatment, were evaluated by this method. When compared with classical clinical and laboratory findings, GSTp mRNA level was higher in diploid tumours. However, the main finding of our study suggests a clear relationship between two of these MDR-related gene expressions, namely GSTp and MRP. This finding provides new insight into human breast tumours, which may possibly be linked to the glutathione conjugate carrier function of MRP. Well defined semiquantitative RT-PCR procedures can therefore constitute a powerful tool to investigate MDR phenotype at mRNA levels of different related genes in small and precious tumour biopsy specimens.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗
PubMed1998

In vivo inaccessibility of somatostatin receptors to 111In-pentreotide in primary renal cell carcinoma.

The presence of somatostatin receptors on human renal cell carcinomas in surgically removed kidneys has been demonstrated by autoradiography. The aim of this study was to detect to in vivo presence of somatostatin receptors in primary renal tumours and their possible metastases before surgery, using 111In-pentreotide scintigraphy. 201Tl was used as a sensitive tumour-seeking agent with blood flow-dependent uptake. Fifteen patients were imaged before surgical removal of the renal tumour. Thirteen tumours were malignant. The large tumours (more than 4 cm in diameter) did not accumulate 111In-pentreotide or 201Tl. In contrast, the single small tumour accumulated both tracers. A scalp skin metastasis was demonstrated in one patient by 201Tl and 111In-pentreotide uptake. In one case, known lung metastases were visualized with both 201Tl and 111In-pentreotide, but the lung metastases of another three patients as well as one case of epidural metastasis were not identified. In one patient with a photopaenic lesion, positive labelling of the surgically removed tumour was demonstrated by in vitro autoradiography. Somatostatin receptor scintigraphy with 111In-pentreotide appears to have little value for the detection of metastases in patients with renal cell carcinoma, as some metastases (especially those of the lungs) were missed. The absence of 111In-pentreotide uptake by large primary tumours is an interesting finding, suggesting inaccessibility of these very large tumours to drugs.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Different pattern of MRP localization in ciliated and basal cells from human bronchial epithelium.

The MRP (multidrug resistance-associated protein) transmembrane transporter, which actively transports a wide variety of lipophilic substrates out of cancer cells, has been suggested to play a major role in cell detoxification via efflux of glutathione conjugates. Because bronchial epithelial cells are constantly exposed to environmental pollutants, MRP might be a particularly important defense mechanism against xenobiotics. This study was therefore designed to investigate MRP localization by immunohistochemistry in bronchial epithelial cells collected by scraping from surgical specimens. In parallel, MRP mRNA was detected by reverse transcriptase chain reaction (rt-PCR) in bronchial cell lysates. However, the pattern of protein expression differed markedly according to cell type. In ciliated epithelial cells, immunostaining was restricted to the basolateral surface, without any labeling at the apical surface, which is at variance with the localization of CFTR and MDR1 proteins, other members of the same family of transporters. In basal cells, MRP was present over the entire circumference of the plasma membrane. Basal cells were identified by their morphology and specifically after incubation with an anticytokeratin 17 monoclonal antibody. In conclusion, the different patterns of localization suggest specific roles for MRP in basal and ciliated cells.

ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters↗
PubMed1998

Neutrophil alveolitis in bronchioloalveolar carcinoma: induction by tumor-derived interleukin-8 and relation to clinical outcome.

Tumor infiltrate, predominantly constituted by lymphocytes, may represent an important prognostic factor in bronchioloalveolar carcinoma (BAC), in addition to tumor extension and histological type. In the present study, we determined the presence, the origin, and the prognostic importance of neutrophils that also participate in leukocyte infiltrates of BAC. Neutrophil alveolitis was determined immunohistochemically in both lung biopsies and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid samples from 29 patients with histologically proved BAC. The local expression of interleukin (IL)-8 was determined by immunohistochemical and immunoenzymatic techniques. Neutrophil counts were analyzed in relation to the clinical outcome of patients by the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox's univariate and stepwise multivariate models. Lymphocytes and neutrophils dominated the inflammatory cell population in the lower respiratory tract of patients with BAC. Neutrophils were located mainly in the alveolar lumen and seldom in alveolar wall whereas lymphocytes were exclusively present in alveolar wall. A relationship was observed between the number of neutrophils and the level of IL-8 in BAL fluid suggesting the involvement of that chemokine in neutrophil recruitment. The tumor cells were the predominant cells that appeared to express IL-8 by immunolocalization. The presence of increased numbers of neutrophils was significantly associated with a poorer outcome in patients with BAC (P = 0.02). In a multivariate analysis, the neutrophil percentage in BAL fluid was an independent predictor of clinical outcome. The risk of death was increased substantially (rate ratio, 5.2; 95% confidence interval, 1.1 to 24.7) among patients with BAL neutrophil percentage of > or = 39% (median of the distribution) as compared with the others. In BAC, neutrophils accumulate in the alveolar lumen. Elaboration of IL-8 by tumor cells may be responsible for this event, which is associated with a significantly higher risk of death.

Adenocarcinoma, Bronchiolo-Alveolar↗
PubMed1997

Predictive value of cytomegalovirus DNA detection by polymerase chain reaction in blood and bronchoalveolar lavage in lung transplant patients.

BACKGROUND: Despite promising results, the efficacy of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for clinical management of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in transplanted patients is still controversial. METHODS: A prospective study of CMV detection, with concurrent shell vial cultures and PCR in blood and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), was conducted in 13 lung transplant recipients, monitored for 15 months (range: 1-42 months). CMV DNA was detected by PCR amplification of a 406-bp fragment in the Us region and a 290-bp fragment in the immediate early region of the viral genome. RESULTS: When comparing PCR to viral culture, the sensitivity and specificity of CMV DNA detection were 100% and 65.7% in blood (n=122) and 100% and 75% in BAL (n=104). The positive and negative predictive values of PCR for a forthcoming diagnosis of CMV infection were 50% and 97% in blood, and 67% and 85% in BAL. Seventeen CMV infections were evaluated at the end of treatment: when PCR was still positive either in blood or BAL, CMV infection relapsed within 35+/-5 days; when PCR was negative, CMV infection relapsed after 142+/-57 days (P=0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Negative CMV detection by PCR strongly advocates against a forthcoming CMV infection. PCR assay seems to be a good predictor for early recurrence of CMV infection, and would be useful for monitoring the response to antiviral therapy.

Adolescent↗