Guidelines for the prevention of CMV transmisson by transfusion of blood components

Abstract

Human cytomegalovirus can be transmitted by direct contact and iatrogenically by transfusion of blood components and by transplanted tissues or organs. After a primary, mostly asymptomatic infection, it remains latent in the body in CD34 + hematopoietic stem cells of the bone marrow and in peripheral blood monocytes. Symptomatic CMV infection or viral reactivation with involvement of different organs can develop in immunocompromised patients. Prevention of CMV transmission by transfusion of blood components is important in patients at increased risk: intrauterine and neonatal transfusions, pregnant women, children with immune deficiency, patients with hemopoietic progenitor stem cell and organ transplants. The most important approaches to the prevention of CMV transmission are a selection of safe donors, serological testing for CMV antibodies, leukodepletion, pathogen inactivation, and rational use of blood. None of these measures are 100 % efficient, but they can complement each other.