Diagnosis of cytomegalovirus (CMV) polyradiculopathy and documentation of in vivo anti-CMV activity in cerebrospinal fluid by using branched DNA signal amplification and antigen assays.

Branched chain DNA assay (bDNA), cytomegalovirus (CMV) antigen assay, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) viral culture were studied for their utility in the diagnosis of CMV polyradiculopathy and for documenting in vivo antiviral effects. CMV was demonstrated in 15 of 16 patients by bDNA assay, 15 of 16 by CMV antigen assay, and 11 of 15 by CSF culture. When clinical criteria and results of the other two assays were used as reference standards, the sensitivity of bDNA was 94% and 100% and the specificity 95.2% and 100%; the CMV antigen assay sensitivity was 94% and 100% and specificity was 85.7% and 100%. Nine (90%) of 10 patients with polyradiculopathy and follow-up CSF culture showed a drop in CMV DNA after treatment; however, only 2 (20%) improved clinically. These results suggest that bDNA and antigen assays may be useful methods for the diagnosis of CMV polyradiculopathy, but treatment failures may not be due to inadequate antiviral activity.