High-dose oral acyclovir reduces the incidence of cytomegalovirus infection in liver transplant recipients.
To determine the impact of high-dose oral acyclovir on cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection or disease after liver transplantation, CMV cultures were prospectively collected for 6 months after transplantation. The incidence and timing of infection and disease in patients receiving high-dose oral acyclovir (3200 mg/day) from day 7 until 3 months after transplantation were compared with an historical control group who received no acyclovir. All patients who did not receive acyclovir (group 1, n = 12) but only 57% of those who did (group 2, n = 22) had CMV infection (P = .008). Nine (75%) group 1 but only 3 (14%) group 2 patients had positive leucocyte cultures (P = .0007). Three group 1 patients developed CMV disease; 1 group 2 patient developed CMV hepatitis. Each of these 4 patients had CMV viremia (P = .01). The frequency of CMV infection after liver transplantation appears to be reduced by high-dose oral acyclovir.
Mollison
L C
LC
Liver Transplant Unit, Austin Hospital, Heidelberg, Australia.
Richards
M J
MJ
Johnson
P D
PD
Hayes
K
K
Munckhof
W J
WJ
Jones
R M
RM
Dabkowski
P D
PD
Angus
P W
PW
D000212:Acyclovir / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors; D014766:Viremia
D000212:Acyclovir