Antibody Responses to the Epstein–Barr Virus and Cytomegaloviruses after Open-Heart and Other Surgery

Abstract

Patients undergoing heart surgery with or without extracorporeal circulation were tested for antibody responses to the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) to assess the frequency of transmission of the two viruses by these procedures. Anti-EBV responses followed both extracorporeal circulation with fresh blood and transfusions of stored blood overall in 8 per cent of 229 patients. Among 18 without preoperative antibodies anti-EBV unaccompanied by overt illness developed in six. Anti-CMV responses were noted only among the 152 patients with extracorporeal circulation overall in 35 per cent and in 59 per cent of 61 patients without preoperative antibodies. Of 72 patients specially followed, 17 formed anti-CMV de novo, accompanied in four by the postperfusion syndrome. Hepatitis-associated (Australia) antigen became detectable in one of the 72 patients, the only one in whom hepatitis B developed.