Treatment of cytomegalovirus pneumonitis with ganciclovir in renal transplantation.
Ganciclovir, also called DHPG, was administered intravenously to eight renal transplant recipients with life-threatening cytomegalovirus (CMV) pneumonitis. One patient died of pulmonary failure; a favorable clinical response was observed in the seven others. In one patient, CMV pneumonitis recurred but responded well to a second course of the drug. At no time was the immunosuppressive regimen completely stopped in the seven surviving patients. Six of them maintained a good renal function 1-11 months after treatment with ganciclovir. No toxic effect was detected during therapy. We conclude that ganciclovir appears to be a promising and effective treatment for CMV pneumonitis after renal transplantation.
Stoffel
M
M
Department of Renal Transplantation, University of Louvain Medical School, Cliniques U.C.L. Saint-Luc, Brussels, Belgium.
Pirson
Y
Y
Squifflet
J P
JP
Lamy
M
M
Gianello
P
P
Alexandre
G P
GP
D000212:Acyclovir / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D015774:Ganciclovir; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011024:Pneumonia, Viral / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D015774:Ganciclovir; D000212:Acyclovir