Two grams daily of oral acyclovir reduces the incidence of cytomegalovirus disease in CMV-seropositive liver transplant recipients.
Our objective in this study was to determine the efficacy of 2 grams a day of oral acyclovir administered for 16 weeks after transplantation for the prevention of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and disease in CMV-seropositive liver transplant recipients. Seventy-three adult liver transplant recipients, seropositive for CMV, were randomized to receive either 2 grams a day of oral acyclovir for 16 weeks after transplantation or no prophylaxis. The incidence of CMV disease was significantly lower in the acyclovir group (5%) than in the control group (27%; P < 0.05). By log-rank analysis, the differences in the probability of presenting CMV disease over the first 16 weeks and over the 1st year were also significant (P < 0.05). We conclude that 2 grams a day of oral acyclovir provides effective prophylaxis against CMV disease in CMV-seropositive liver transplant recipients.
Gavaldà
J
J
Division of Infectious Diseases, Hospital General Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain. jPgavalda@ar.vhebron.es
de Otero
J
J
Murio
E
E
Vargas
V
V
Rosselló
J
J
Calicó
I
I
Margarit
C
C
Pahissa
A
A
D000212:Acyclovir / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001769:Blood / Q000821:virology*; D003404:Creatinine / Q000378:metabolism; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006212:Hallucinations / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D011817:Rabbits; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D003404:Creatinine; D000212:Acyclovir