REVIEW PAPER
Human cytomegalovirus infection as a lifelong health problem

Infections with human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) are widely spread worldwide. A clinical picture of the infection

varies and depends on the age of the patient and the condition of the immune system. Rapid dissemination

of HCMV is related to the presence of the virus in the peripheral blood cells. The most severe course of the disease

is observed in patients with congenital cytomegaly, organ transplant recipients and patients with either acquired

or inborn immune deficiencies. Chronic HCMV infection may lead to atherosclerosis and as a consequence,

to cardiovascular diseases such as: myocardial ischemia or infarction and hypertension. In addition, the relation

between HCMV infection and neoplastic transformation was noticed. Since diagnostic and therapeutic methods

are still imperfect, a development of an effective vaccine seems to be of key importance for a significant reduction

of the consequences of HCMV infection.