Prediction of cytomegalovirus pneumonia after marrow transplantation from cellular characteristics and cytomegalovirus culture of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid

Abstract

Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed between days 35 and 45 posttransplant in 37 marrow recipients without clinical or radiologic evidence of cytomegalovirus (CMV) pneumonia to determine if the presence of CMV or cellular characteristics was predictive of subsequent development of CMV pneumonia. Analysis of BAL fluid included culture and direct fluorescent antibody staining for CMV, total mononuclear cell count, lymphocyte count, and lymphocyte subsets. Patients were followed to day 110 after transplant for development of CMV pneumonia. Weekly cultures of blood, urine, and throat were also obtained. BAL was positive for CMV in 7 patients, of whom 3 developed CMV pneumonia. It was negat..