title: Ganciclovir/valganciclovir prophylaxis decreases cytomegalovirus-related events and bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome after lung transplantation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Until recently, cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection represented a major threat to lung transplant recipients. Preliminary studies have shown that antiviral prophylaxis might improve the outcome for these patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We extended our initial pilot trial of prolonged prophylaxis with either oral ganciclovir (1 g 3 times per day) or valganciclovir (450 mg twice per day). The trial included 96 patients who were at risk for CMV-related events.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CMV prophylaxis resulted in a significant decrease in CMV-related events (i.e., active infection and disease), from 75% in a control group and for 274 cases from the literature who did not receive prophylaxis to a cumulative incidence of 27% (P < .001). Only 11% of the prophylaxis recipients experienced CMV disease (P = .002). Moreover, at 5 years, there was a significant decrease in the rate of bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome, from 60% to 43% (P = .002), and an improved rate of survival, from 47% to 73% (P= .036), irrespective of the immunosuppressive regimen received. CMV strains with UL97 mutations were recovered from 7 of 12 analyzed cases, but the presence of this mutation had no impact on the severity of CMV disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A regimen of prolonged ganciclovir or valganciclovir prophylaxis decreased the rate of active CMV infection and disease, reduced the incidence of bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome, and improved the survival rate. Drug-resistant CMV strains may occur, but such strains appeared to have no impact on the outcome of CMV-related events.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Corinne
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chmiel
authors.forename: Rudolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Speich
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hofer
authors.forename: Detlef
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Michel
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mertens
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Weder
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boehler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001989:Bronchiolitis Obliterans / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control; D018890:Chemoprevention; D003587:Cytomegalovirus; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D015774:Ganciclovir / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D016040:Lung Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000077562:Valganciclovir
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077562:Valganciclovir; D015774:Ganciclovir