Anti-CMV-IgG (Cytomegalovirus IgG antibodies)

"Cytomegalovirus ""cell size–increasing virus"" (Cytomegalovirus hominis) is a DNA-containing virus belonging to the herpesvirus family. It refers to an opportunistic infection, that is, causing the disease only under favorable conditions for it (decrease in immunity). The virus is able to stay in the body for many years in a ""dormant"" latent state and makes itself known at the most inopportune moment.

Serological diagnosis of cytomegalovirus infection is based on the detection of specific IgG antibodies to cytomegalovirus (CMV). These antibodies are produced by organisms in response to the introduction of an infection to fight it. Each class of antibodies has its own functions and timing of appearance. IgG is produced 2-3 weeks after infection, but IgG cannot provide stable immunity against cytomegalovirus. Consequently, the test reflects the chronic stage of the course of cytomegalovirus infection, and also indicates the development of immunity to the pathogen. A person develops unstable weak immunity to CMV, so re-infection is possible. To distinguish a chronic process from a weak immune system, it is necessary to conduct a dynamic analysis with an interval of 2 weeks. If the antibody count is unchanged or increased, it indicates a chronic course.

Other diagnostic methods for detecting CMV include:

• Detection of CMV by PCR in the blood or in a scrape from the genitourinary tract.

Cytomegalovirus infection occurs in three ways:

1. ARVI is a similar variant (fever, sore throat, runny nose, general weakness, headache, swelling of the salivary glands).
2. Damage to the organs of the genitourinary system (urethritis, cystitis, etc.).
3. Generalized form (damage to individual organs - lungs, liver, kidneys, intestine, brain, etc.).

When examining the saliva of practically healthy individuals, according to statistics, cytomegalovirus infection is detected in almost sixty percent of cases, and in people over fifty years of age, in almost one hundred percent of cases, but people continue to remain perfectly healthy, because the virus is in an inactive state. Cytomegalovirus is a potentially dangerous group of TORCH infections for fetus development (toxoplasma, rubella virus, cytomegalovirus, herpes).

The main source of infection is a human carrier of the virus. Since cytomegalovirus is able to survive in various body environments, its transmission becomes possible:

• Through kissing, due to the virus content in saliva;
• Through the blood, in particular during transfusion of whole blood and its components;
• From mother to child through milk during lactation;
• During sexual contact.

The clinical picture of cytomegalovirus infection is very diverse and depends primarily on which organ or system is involved in the pathological process."