Molecular detection of cytomegalovirus DNA in a sample of Iraqi patients with acute myeloid leukemia

Background. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a common opportunistic pathogen in immunocompromised patients, particularly those with hematological malignancies such as acute myeloid leukemia (AML). CMV reactivation can significantly complicate disease management and affect prognosis. Aim. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of CMV DNA positivity among AML patients and examine associations with age and sex. While CMV monitoring is well-established in transplant settings, there is a notable lack of data on CMV prevalence in non-transplant AML cohorts, particularly from the Middle East. Addressing this gap is critical for understanding CMV's clinical relevance in immunocompromised populations in this region. Materials and methods. The study was conducted at Baghdad Teaching Laboratories between April 2022 and December 2023. CMV DNA detection was performed using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) in 249 AML patients. Statistical analysis of age and sex distributions was performed using chi-square tests. Although the qPCR platform used is capable of quantitative analysis, in this study it was used in a qualitative method to determine only the presence or absence of CMV DNA, with a detection threshold of 100 copies/mL. Results. Out of 249 patients, 245 (98.4%) tested positive for CMV DNA. A statistically significant association was found between CMV positivity and sex (p = 0.031), with all male patients testing positive compared to 95.6% of females. No significant association was observed between age group and CMV DNA status (p = 0.903). Conclusion. CMV DNA positivity was highly prevalent among AML patients, particularly males. Routine CMV monitoring is essential in AML care, and further studies are needed to explore the impact of CMV on disease progression and treatment outcomes in Iraqi populations.