title: Treatment of multidrug-resistant cytomegalovirus retinitis with systemically administered leflunomide.
abstract: Multiresistant cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is increasingly recognized in solid organ transplant recipients. Leflunomide is a novel drug with both immunosuppressive and anti-CMV properties. Herein we report a case of a renal transplant recipient treated with leflunomide for multiresistant CMV retinitis, and provide correlation between serum and vitreous levels of leflunomide. She had stabilization of her retinitis and measurable levels of drug in her vitreous fluid and serum. These initial findings suggest that leflunomide may be useful in the treatment of CMV disease, including retinitis in patients after solid organ transplantation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver, Colorado 80224, USA. Marilyn.Levi@uchsc.edu
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Levi
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mandava
authors.forename: L K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Weinberg
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Olson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000187:drug effects*; D017726:Cytomegalovirus Retinitis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D024921:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Viral; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007555:Isoxazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000276:immunology; D000077339:Leflunomide; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D007555:Isoxazoles; D000077339:Leflunomide