Acute maternal cytomegalovirus infection is associated with significantly decreased numbers of CD34+ cells in umbilical cord blood.

OBJECTIVE AND BACKGROUND: There is little information regarding the serologic status of umbilical cord blood (UCB) donors. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the most frequent agent transmitted by blood products and studies have reported that CMV can inhibit myelopoiesis, however, its effects on the cellular content of UCB have not been documented.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: We investigated, retrospectively, the prevalence of serological evidence of infection in 857 women donating their UCB at a public university hospital and studied the influence of acute CMV exposure on UCB content of CD34+ cells. The biological characteristics of UCB from serology positive-donors were compared with those of women with negative tests.

RESULTS: We found that 51 of 857 (6%) UCB units were positive for infectious disease markers; anti-CMV IgM was the most prevalent marker, 43 of 51 (86%) of cases with infectious markers. UCB collected from anti-CMV IgM-positive donors more frequently met rejection criteria for use as a transplanation product. The CD34+ cell count was the most often affected, 2.48×10(6) in anti-CMV IgM-positive donors compared to 1.48×10(6) in unaffecetd donors( p=0.006). The probability of a UCB meeting a CD34+ cell content≥2×10(6) was significantly lower in units from IgM anti-CMV+ women compared to unaffecetd donors [Odds ratio (OR)=0.428 (95% CI 0.182-0.632; p=0.015]; the total nucleated cell count (TNC) was lower but not statistically significant [p=0.068].

CONCLUSION: UCB donated by anti-CMV IgM-positive women has a high probability of not meeting the criteria required for cryopreservation for future use as a transplantation product, because of the low number of CD34+ cells.