Immunologic Evidence for Frequent Age-Related Cytomegalovirus Reactivation in Seropositive Immunocompetent Individuals

Abstract

Immunoblot analysis using mouse monoclonal antibody to human IgM detected IgM to cytomegalovirus (CMV)-specific proteins (150, 42, 38, 32, and 28 kDa) in 74 (38%) of 197 seropositive serum samples from 197 individuals in three subject groups: 43 surgical patients, 31 patients with solid tumors, and 123 healthy individuals. Logistic regression analysis revealed that the presence of IgM to CMV proteins was not associated with a specific subject group but was associated with age (P < .0001), gender (P < .005), and IgG titer (P < .03). The rate of IgM positivity increased from 15% (8 of 54) for those 60 y. Twenty-three (29%) of 80 males were IgM-positive compared with 49 (44%) of 111 females. Immunoglobulin G titers to CMV were significantly associated with age, gender, and IgM positivity. These data suggest that CMV reactivation in immunocompetent seropositive individuals may occur frequently and increase with age.