Cytomegalovirus Infection Complicating Open-Heart Surgery

This paper reports a case of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection complicating heart surgery in connection with extracorporeal circulation, transfusion of fresh blood and medication of corticosteroids. The clinical syndrome was different from that reported in a small number of cases with post-transfusion CMV complications. A longstanding fever with involvement in the infectious process of lungs, also possibly heart, liver, and spleen, dominated the clinical picture. The role of viral infections—and that of CMV in particular—as complication of surgery, transfusions and immunodepressive therapy is discussed. The frequency of CMV disease and of CMV carriers is supposed to be considerable.