Epstein-Barr virus and cytomegalovirus primary infections: A comparative study in 52 immunocompetent adults

Objective. - The objective of this study was to compare epidemiological, clinical, and biological data of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) primary infections in immunocompetent adults, admitted in the infectious disease department of the Reims Teaching Hospital between 2000 and 2005. Patients and methods. - Inclusion criteria were the presence of anti-VCA IgM antibodies or the presence of CMV specific IgM antibodies and the absence of any other positive serology. Differences in reported percentage were compared with a Khi(2) test or Fischer's exact test, when appropriate. Continuous variables were compared with the Mann-Whitney Test. Results. - There were no significant changes over the years in the numbers of EBV (n=32) and CMV (n=20) primary infections. The patient's mean age was 22.7 years (14-48 years) in EBV primary infections and 38.6 years (13-66 years) in CMV primary infections (P <0.01). The clinical variables significantly associated with primary EBV infection were sore throat and cervical lymphadenopathy (P<0.01). Arthromyalgia and respiratory manifestations were less frequent in EBV primary infection (P <0.01). The biological variables significantly associated with EBV primary infection were a marked alanine aminotransferase elevation and a marked lymphocytosis with atypical lymphocytes (P<0.001). Thrombopenia was less frequently associated with EBV primary infection (P<0.001). Conclusion. - Clinical and biological presentations of EBV and CMV primary infections were similar. The simultaneous serologic diagnosis of these two infections remains necessary to provide a specific diagnosis, for the most efficient patient care. (C) 2010 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.