title: Prevention of cytomegalovirus infection by valaciclovir after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation from an unrelated donor.
abstract: In this prospective single-center study, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of valaciclovir (VACV) in the prevention of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT). The study population consisted of 12 patients who underwent allogeneic BMT from an unrelated donor. Patients received acyclovir (ACV) intravenously until they became able to take VACV orally. VACV was administered at a daily dose of 3000 mg and continued until day 100. CMV infection was monitored by CMV antigenemia assay and real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis of plasma. Thirty-five patients who did not receive any form of CMV chemoprophylaxis served as control subjects. CMV infection was detected in 4 (33.3%) of the 12 patients and in 24 (68.6%) of the 35 control subjects (P < .05). The onset of CMV infection was significantly delayed in the VACV group (median, day 43) compared with the control group (median, day 28.5; P < .01). Gastrointestinal symptoms as an adverse event due to VACV administration were observed in 2 patients. The plasma levels of ACV after VACV administration were measured in 8 patients and were similar to those in the healthy subjects. In conclusion, VACV shows normal absorption, even in the early posttransplantation period, and may prevent or delay CMV infection effectively and safely in allogeneic BMT recipients.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Takehiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mori
authors.forename: Yoshinobu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Aisa
authors.forename: Takayuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shimizu
authors.forename: Tomonori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakazato
authors.forename: Rie
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yamazaki
authors.forename: Yasuo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ikeda
authors.forename: Shinichiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Okamoto
mesh_terms: D000212:Acyclovir / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008232:Lymphoproliferative Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous; D000077483:Valacyclovir; D014633:Valine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral; D014633:Valine; D000077483:Valacyclovir; D000212:Acyclovir