Production of anti‐cytomegalovirus antibody following T‐cell depleted bone marrow transplant

The serological status to cytomegalovirus (CMV) was examined in 24 patients with no detectable CMV excretion, following T-lymphocyte depleted bone marrow transplantation. The results show that seropositive recipients continue to produce CMV antibody regardless of the serological status of the donor but that seronegative recipients fail to produce CMV antibody even when the donor is seropositive. These findings suggest that when an effective CMV vaccine becomes available vaccination of the donor would be unlikely to confer protection on the recipient but that vaccination of the recipient may achieve this.