Abstract
The use of postdetection antiviral treatment of cytomegalovirus (CMV) as a strategy to prevent infection and disease in solid-organ transplant patients has not been evaluated by placebo-controlled trials. We carried out such a study in 69 patients who had received liver transplants and had positive results of CMV polymerase chain reaction within 8 weeks after transplantation but did not have concomitant CMV infection or disease. These patients were randomly assigned to receive placebo or oral ganciclovir for 8 weeks. CMV infection developed in 21% and disease developed in 12% of placebo recipients (P = .022), compared with 3% and 0%, respectively, among ganciclovir recipients (P = .003). Similarly, in the placebo arm, 55% and 36% of CMV-negative patients who received organs from CMV-positive donors developed CMV infection or disease, respectively (P = .02), compared with 11% and 0% of such patients in the ganciclovir arm (P < .01). Oral ganciclovir administered on CMV detection by PCR prevents CMV infection or disease after liver transplantation.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 854-860 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Journal of Infectious Diseases |
Volume | 185 |
Issue number | 7 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Apr 1 2002 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Immunology and Allergy
- Infectious Diseases