Thrombosis associated with acute cytomegalovirus infection: a narrative review

Arch Med Sci. 2014 Dec 22;10(6):1186-90. doi: 10.5114/aoms.2014.47828.

Abstract

Thrombosis associated with acute cytomegalovirus infection has been reported many times in the literature since the mid 1980s - mainly in case reports and in small case series, but also in four controlled studies. Still, many physicians are unaware of this association although acute cytomegalovirus infection diagnosis in a thrombosis patient may warrant antiviral therapy and may affect anticoagulation therapy duration. Accordingly, the clinical characteristics of patients with thrombosis and acute cytomegalovirus infection are reviewed, and the current knowledge concerning this unique association is presented herein. We believe it is time to add acute cytomegalovirus infection to the list of thrombosis triggers.

Keywords: anti-phospholipid antibodies; cytomegalovirus; thrombosis.