Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Anatolian Current Medical Journal, cilt.7, sa.6, ss.738-742, 2025 (TRDizin)
Aims: This study retrospectively evaluates the serological (CMV IgM and IgG) and molecular (CMV DNA PCR) test results of patients admitted to İstanbul Faculty of Medicine Hospital between 2021 and 2023 due to suspected cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection. The aim is to assess the diagnostic value of combining serological and molecular methods and to analyze CMV positivity across age and gender groups. Methods: This cross-sectional observational study included 1.649 patients who underwent CMV testing (CMV IgM, CMV IgG, and/or CMV DNA PCR) at the Medical Microbiology Laboratory of İstanbul Faculty of Medicine between January 1, 2021, and December 31, 2023. Serological tests were performed using ELISA (Vircell, Spain), and CMV DNA was quantified using realtime PCR (QIAsymphony/Artus CMV QS-RGQ and cobas® 6800). Data were anonymized and analyzed statistically using SPSS v26.0. Mann-Whitney U, Chi-square, McNemar, and ROC tests were applied; p<0.05 was considered significant. Results: Among 1.649 patients (52.9% male, 47.1% female, median age 32.6 years), CMV IgM positivity was low (2.67%), while CMV IgG was positive in 61.55%, indicating moderate seroprevalence. CMV DNA PCR was positive in 27.77%, including seronegative cases. While IgM and IgG positivity did not significantly differ by age (p=0.999, p=0.287) or gender (p>0.05), CMV DNA positivity varied significantly across age groups (p<0.001), highest in individuals aged 61+ (32.1%). Conclusion: Serological tests alone may be insufficient to detect active CMV infections, especially in older or immunocompromised patients. PCR-based molecular testing plays a crucial complementary role in diagnosis and should be prioritized in high-risk populations. Future multicenter prospective studies are needed to better understand the clinical implications of serological and molecular findings.