Original Article

Is It Possible to Determine Plasma Cytomegalovirus DNA Cut-off and Develop a Scoring System to Predict Cytomegalovirus Gastrointestinal Disease?

Volume 36 · Issue 12 Publish Date: October 6, 2025
Gizem Karahan ORCID Sehnaz Alp ORCID Merve Kasikci ORCID Alpaslan Alp ORCID Cenk Sokmensuer ORCID Taylan Kav ORCID
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Published In

Turkish Journal of Gastroenterology

Volume 36 · Issue 12

Pages: 798-806

History

Published Online: October 6, 2025

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Copyright © 2025 Gizem Karahan, Sehnaz Alp, Merve Kasikci, Alpaslan Alp, Cenk Sokmensuer, Taylan Kav

Gizem Karahan ORCID
Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Türkiye
Sehnaz Alp ORCID
Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Türkiye
Merve Kasikci ORCID
Department of Biostatistics, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Türkiye
Alpaslan Alp ORCID
Department of Medical Microbiology, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Türkiye
Cenk Sokmensuer ORCID
Department of Pathology, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Türkiye
Taylan Kav ORCID
Department of Gastroenterology, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Türkiye
Karahan, G., Alp, S., Kasikci, M., Alp, A., Sokmensuer, C., & Kav, T. (2025). Is It Possible to Determine Plasma Cytomegalovirus DNA Cut-off and Develop a Scoring System to Predict Cytomegalovirus Gastrointestinal Disease?. Turkish Journal of Gastroenterology, 36(12), 798–806. https://doi.org/10.5152/tjg.2025.24507
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Abstract

Background/Aims: Early diagnosis of cytomegalovirus gastrointestinal disease (CMV-GID) is often deemed critical for the appropriate management of the disease. Although histopathological examination is the gold standard for diagnosis, non-invasive and early diagnostic methods may be needed to predict CMV-GID. As a rapid and non-invasive method, the detection of CMV DNA in plasma by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) can be utilized. In this study, the aim was to determine the optimal plasma CMV DNA cut-off value and to develop a scoring system as an adjunct diagnostic method for predicting CMV-GID.

Materials and Methods: In this methodological study, the records of patients who underwent gastrointestinal biopsy and plasma CMV PCR testing were retrospectively reviewed. A scoring system based on multivariate analysis was established as a predictive model for CMV-GID. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was performed to determine the optimal plasma CMV DNA cut-off using the Youden Index and to evaluate the performance measures related to the proposed methods for predicting CMV-GID.

Results: A total of 302 patients (125 with the diagnosis of CMV-GID and 177 without CMV-GID, based on their endoscopic biopsy reports and plasma CMV PCR results) were included. The optimal CMV DNA cut-off value in plasma to predict CMV-GID was determined to be 272 copies/mL. A total score of 28.1 obtained from the predictive model was set to be the optimal value for predicting CMV-GID.

Conclusion: The use of a scoring system and an optimal CMV DNA cut-off may help to predict CMV-GID and facilitate early diagnosis and treatment.

 

Cite this article as: Karahan G, Alp S, Kasikci M, Alp A, Sokmensuer C, Kav T. Is it possible to determine plasma cytomegalovirus DNA cut-off and develop a scoring system to predict cytomegalovirus gastrointestinal disease? Turk J Gastroenterol. 2025;36(12):798-806.

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Article Info
Published In
Journal Turkish Journal of Gastroenterology
Volume / Issue Volume 36 · Issue 12
Pages 798-806
DOI 10.5152/tjg.2025.24507
History
Published Online October 6, 2025
License
Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Copyright
Copyright (c) 2025 Gizem Karahan, Sehnaz Alp, Merve Kasikci, Alpaslan Alp, Cenk Sokmensuer, Taylan Kav
Affiliations
Gizem Karahan ORCID
Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Türkiye
Sehnaz Alp ORCID
Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Türkiye
Merve Kasikci ORCID
Department of Biostatistics, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Türkiye
Alpaslan Alp ORCID
Department of Medical Microbiology, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Türkiye
Cenk Sokmensuer ORCID
Department of Pathology, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Türkiye
Taylan Kav ORCID
Department of Gastroenterology, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Türkiye
Cite this Article
Karahan, G., Alp, S., Kasikci, M., Alp, A., Sokmensuer, C., & Kav, T. (2025). Is It Possible to Determine Plasma Cytomegalovirus DNA Cut-off and Develop a Scoring System to Predict Cytomegalovirus Gastrointestinal Disease?. Turkish Journal of Gastroenterology, 36(12), 798–806. https://doi.org/10.5152/tjg.2025.24507
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