Detection of antibody to cytomegalovirus early antigen in vaccinated, normal volunteers and renal transplant candidates.

Antibody to cytomegalovirus early antigen (CMV-EA) has been demonstrated in acute CMV infection. Other investigators have suggested that antibody to CMV-EA would distinguish acute CMV infection from past infection and could therefore be diagnostically useful. Antibody to CMV-EA has been demonstrated in reactivated CMV infection, in infants with congenital infection, and in pregnant women. Antibody to CMV-EA was studied in renal transplant candidates receiving Towne strain CMV vaccine, healthy adults receiving vaccine, and in asymptomatic, seropositive adults. Most healthy volunteers and renal transplant candidates receiving vaccine developed antibody to CMV-EA; it persisted in some of these adults many months after immunization. Antibody to CMV-EA was also demonstrated in asymptomatic adults with serologic evidence of a past infection. Antibody to CMV-EA is not solely an acute-phase reactant but, at least in some patients, is present in the absence of viral excretion or clinical disease.