Cytomegalovirus (CMV)

October 2007     View PDF     En español

The bottom line

• Most people in the US have CMV infection by the time they turn 40.
• Most of the time CMV infection does not cause disease. Disease usually happens in people with damaged immune systems with CD4+ cell counts below 50.
• Drugs do not clear CMV infection from the body, but they are used to control CMV disease.
• Preventing CMV infection can be difficult because of how common the virus is. The best way to help prevent infection is through changes in personal habits and interactions with others, especially around small children.
• Babies born to pregnant women who get CMV during the pregnancy can have disabilities later in life, especially if the baby has symptoms at birth. Changing your habits around how you interact with others, especially with small children, may help women not infected with CMV who are pregnant or planning to get pregnant to prevent getting the virus and passing it onto the unborn baby.
• There are several ways to prevent CMV disease. The best way is by getting the best care for your HIV and keeping your CD4+ cell count above 200. Regularly seeing a special eye doctor (ophthalmologist) will help catch damage that may occur from CMV disease in the eye.
• CMV retinitis (in the eye) is the most common CMV disease in people living with HIV. CMV disease can occur in different parts of the body at the same time. People who suspect they have symptoms of CMV disease should report them to their doctors as soon as possible.
• There are several drugs used to treat CMV disease. Most can have serious side effects and require short-term changes in lifestyle. Only one, ganciclovir, is used to prevent disease in HIV-positive people with low CD4+ cell counts, although its use may not be desired due to its side effects and possible drug resistance concerns.