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Abstract

The postperfusion syndrome, haemolytic anaemia and thrombocytopenic purpura following open heart surgery have all been attributed to acute cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection,'-3 usually acquired from perioperative transfusions of whole blood. Increased susceptibility of bacterial infections has been described,⁴ but only in patients who have undergone cardiac transplantation and consequently received immunosuppressive therapy. Studies have shown that CMV can suppress cell-mediated immunity in vivo and in vitro ⁵ and impairment of neutrophil migration has been demonstrated in CMV infected mice.⁶ We describe a patient with impaired polymorph function associated with an acute CMV infection following aortic valve replacement.

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References

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Cytomegalovirus as a cause of immunosuppression following aortic valve replacement

Abstract

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