CMV-specific
IgA,
IgM and
IgG antibodies were detected by ELISA in sera from 81 renal transplant patients. Twenty-seven patients were followed from
transplantation; 6 patients who underwent on
transplantation before the beginning of the study were followed during admissions for graft failure or acute illness; 48 outpatients were periodically monitored. One of the patient followed from
transplantation experienced a primary CMV
infection, serologically demonstrated by the appearance of specific
IgM and
IgG. Specific
IgA appeared at the same time as
IgM and lasted for about six months. A specific
IgA response was observed in all but five recurrent CMV
infections too, even when specific
IgM were not present. In all outpatients periodically monitored for CMV serology specific
IgA were not found. About specific
IgA polimerization, a transient marked
polymeric IgA (p-
IgA) response was observed in only the primary
infection whereas in all the other
IgA positive patients, specific
IgA were represented by monomers (m-
IgA).