Viruses in Cell Cultures of Kidneys of Children with Congenital Heart Malformations and Other Diseases.

Abstract

Summary A systematic search for occult cytopathic agents in cultures from kidneys and occasionally other organs obtained at autopsy from children several days to 15 years of age, was conducted over a 2-year period. Of the 158 kidneys processed, 84 were successfully propagated in culture. Primary, secondary, and occasionally tertiary cultures were maintained and observed for over 2 months. The percentage of kidneys propagated decreased with increasing age of the patient. Nine of the 66 children less than one year of age yielded spontaneous cytopathic agents in the cell cultures derived from their kidneys and/or other organs. None of the cultures from the 18 older children were positive. Three of the 9 agents were identified as cytomegalovirus, 3 were adenovirus (types 1, 2 and 7) and one each as measles, varicella and coxsackie virus type Bl. Only 2 of the 9 isolates (adenovirus type 7 and coxsackie virus type Bl) were isolated also from 20% organ suspensions. In 5 of the cases presented, there was a definite association between the virus isolated and the disease of the child. The other 4 agents, 2 cytomegaloviruses and 2 adenoviruses (types 1 and 2) were recovered from infants with congenital heart malformations.