Cytomegalovirus antigen-specific T cell immune responses in patients with autoimmune diseases under different cytomegalovirus infection status

To the Editor:Patients with autoimmune diseases have increased risk of active cytomegalovirus(CMV)infection due to immune dysfunction or the application of glucocorticoid and immunosuppressants.[1]Cui et al[2]found that compared with human immunodeficiency virus(HIV)/acquired immune deficiency syndrome(27%),posttransplant patients(14.8%),and hematological malignancies(5.1%),patients with autoimmune disease had the highest incidence of CMV antigenemia(35.1%).Monitoring CMV antigen-specific T cell immunity is helpful for understanding the protective immunity against CMV infection and identifing the risk of CMV-related complications.Currently,the CMV antigen-specific T cell immune responses in patients with autoimmune diseases remains unknown.