Cytomegalovirus DNA is highly prevalent in the blood of patients with asthma and is associated with age and asthma traits.

Abstract

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) IgG antibodies have been associated with inflammaging and immunosenescence. We aimed to assess the presence of CMV DNA in the blood of adult and elderly patients with bronchial asthma to establish potential association of CMV DNAemia with asthma and asthma characteristics. Eighty-five elderly asthmatics, 74 younger asthma patients, and 114 age-matched controls were recruited. The CMV DNA was detected using commercial artus assay in 10.7% of asthma patients, but was negative in all control individuals. The secondary assay identified CMV DNA in 41.5% of asthmatics and 13.3% of control subjects (P < .001). Presence of CMV DNA was associated with an increased risk of asthma and CMV DNA copy numbers correlated with some asthma traits, including respiratory parameters and exhaled breath nitric oxide. We conclude that CMV infection is associated with asthma and may contribute to the pathogenesis of asthmatic inflammation.