Impact of cytomegalovirus infection on long-term survival after orthotopic liver transplantation.
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is one of the most common and serious opportunistic infections in solid organ transplant patients. In different series the incidence of CMV infection ranges from 25% to 85%. An indirect effect of infection includes reduced long-term patient and allograft survival. Our objective was to determine the relationship between CMV infection and patient survival after orthotopic liver transplantation.


METHODS
From January 1999 to December 2001, 163 orthotopic liver transplantations were performed in 154 patients. The inclusion criteria for this analysis were the absence of retransplantation and survival of more than 6 months. One hundred fifteen patients met the inclusion criteria. CMV infection was detected by positive antigenemia.


RESULTS
CMV infection occurred in 65.8% of patients after orthotopic liver transplantation. Their 5-year survival was 85%, with no difference observed between patients with or without infection (P = .8).


CONCLUSIONS
CMV infection did not interfere with patient survival after orthotopic liver transplantation.
Hoppe
L
L
Santa Casa, Porto Alegre, FFFCMPA, Rua Uruguai 2001, 312/B Passo Fundo, Rio Grande do Sul, CEP 99010-112 Brazil. lisiahoppe@brturbo.com.br
Marroni
C A
CA
Bressane
R
R
Lago
L
L
Schiavo
F L
FL
Cigerza
G C
GC
Brandão
A B M
AB
Zanotelli
M L
ML
Cantisani
G P C
GP
D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000401:mortality / Q000502:physiology*; D018579:Patient Selection; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000821:virology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D017741:Survivors