Long-term ganciclovir prophylaxis eliminates serious cytomegalovirus disease in liver transplant recipients receiving OKT3 therapy for rejection.
We conducted a trial of long-term ganciclovir prophylaxis for prevention of cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease in liver transplant recipients receiving OKT3 therapy for rejection. Intravenous ganciclovir (6 mg/kg once a day, Monday through Friday) was initiated on the same day OKT3 therapy was started and continued for 4 or more weeks. Fifty-one consecutive adult patients (80% CMV seropositive, 20% CMV seronegative) were evaluated. Due to the patient's noncompliance or the primary physician's decision, 6 patients received less than 2 weeks of ganciclovir. Three of these 6 (50%) developed CMV disease (hepatitis 1, CMV syndrome 2). In contrast, of 45 patients receiving 4 or more weeks of prophylactic ganciclovir, only 1 (2.2%) developed CMV disease (hepatitis). There were no cases of CMV disease among 29 patients who received 6 or more weeks of ganciclovir. Reversible neutropenia in 2 patients (4.4%) was the only side effect associated with long-term ganciclovir. Complications from central intravenous catheters did not occur. These results suggest that CMV can be eliminated as a significant pathogen in liver transplant recipients receiving OKT3 for rejection by the long-term administration of prophylactic gnaciclovir, which is safe.
Department of Medicine, UCLA Center for the Health Sciences 90095, USA.
D J
DJ
Winston
D K
DK
Imagawa
C D
CD
Holt
F
F
Kaldas
A
A
Shaked
R W
RW
Busuttil
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D015774:Ganciclovir / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016853:Muromonab-CD3 / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016853:Muromonab-CD3; D015774:Ganciclovir