title: Pre-transplant risk factors predicting post-transplant cytomegalovirus infection in liver transplant recipients.
abstract: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection causes significant morbidity and mortality among transplant recipients. Although it is still not clear if a preemptive strategy is superior to a prophylactic strategy, many transplant programs elect for preemptive treatment for post-transplant CMV infection. In order to improve the preemptive strategy, we analyzed a series of liver recipients by means of quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Ninety-one liver transplant recipients were monitored by real-time PCR for CMV, and the results were analyzed in terms of preoperative conditions. Multivariate analysis revealed fulminant hepatic failure as an underlying disease (odds ratio, 6.8; 95% CI, 1.2-39.2), while an ABO-incompatible graft (odds ratio, 5.0; 95% CI, 1.3-19.1), and a serological combination of the donor (D) being positive with the recipient (R) being negative for CMV (D+/R-) (odds ratio, 5.8; 95% CI, 1.3-26.0) were independently associated with the development of significant CMV infection. Patients with risk factors had higher peak CMV DNA concentrations than those without, and developed CMV infections faster (P = 0.0002). Screening of recipients according to risk factors and PCR monitoring may result in an optimization of the preemptive strategy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Kyoto University Hospital, Shogoin, Kyoto, Japan. saitota@kuhp.kyoto-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: Hiroto
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Egawa
authors.forename: Toyoichiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kudo
authors.forename: Shunji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takakura
authors.forename: Naoko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fujihara
authors.forename: Yoshitsugu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Iinuma
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ichiyama
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000235:genetics*; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000209:etiology*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral