Prevalence of cytomegalovirus antibody in hemophiliacs and homosexuals infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1

We determined the prevalence of antibody to cytomegalovirus (CMV) in the sera of non-homosexual hemophilia patients and homosexual men infected with the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). CMV antibody testing by latex agglutination revealed 33 of 58 HIV-1 infected hemophiliacs (57%) were antibody-positive compared with 54 of 54 HIV-1 infected asymptomatic non-hemophiliac homosexuals (100%) (p less than .001). Nine of 15 hemophiliacs (60%) with symptomatic HIV-1 infection were CMV antibody-positive. We also tested 22 HIV-1 antibody-negative hemophiliacs who had received non-heat treated factor concentrates. 14 of these 22 (64%) were CMV antibody-positive compared with 57% of HIV-1 antibody-positive hemophiliacs. We conclude 1) there is little correlation between transmission of HIV-1 and CMV by factor concentrates, 2) the presence of CMV antibody does not appear to be associated with clinical stage of HIV-1 infection in hemophiliacs, and 3) there may be a significant number of CMV antibody-negative hemophiliacs with HIV-1 infection at risk for primary infection and subsequent disease if CMV seronegative blood products are not provided for future transfusions.