Cytomegalovirus, varicella-zoster virus, and Coxsackie B virus-specific IgM antibody responses in children with cancer

Abstract

Cytomegalovirus (CMV)-, varicella-zoster virus (VZV)-, and Coxsackie B virus (CBV)-specific IgM antibody responses were studied in children with cancer during CMV, VZV, or enterovirus infections, respectively. High concentrations of specific IgM antibody apparently persisted in some instances for more than 6 months after primary CMV, primary VZV, or enterovirus infection; in other instances primary CMV or VZV infection were accompanied by undetectable or low-concentration specific IgM antibody responses. Low-concentration or undetectable specific IgM antibody responses were seen during recurrent CMV and recurrent VZV infection. Detection of a high-concentration CMV-, VZV-, or CBV-specific IgM antibody response in a single serum obtained from a child with malignant disease thus lacked specificity and sensitivity as a diagnostic marker for recent infection with one of these viruses. Moreover, detection of a specific IgM response did not differentiate primary and recurrent CMV or VZV infection in such a child. These findings have important implications for the serological diagnosis of virus infections in children with cancer.