title: Increased incidence of cytomegalovirus infection in high-risk liver transplant recipients receiving valganciclovir prophylaxis versus ganciclovir prophylaxis.
abstract: Optimal measures for the prevention of cytomegalovirus (CMV) in high-risk orthotopic liver transplant (OLT) patients are unknown. The charts of high-risk OLT recipients with 12 months of follow-up who were transplanted over a 44-month period were reviewed. The incidence of CMV disease in CMV-seropositive donor/CMV-seronegative recipient patients receiving valganciclovir or ganciclovir prophylaxis was compared. Sixty-six patients met the inclusion criteria and were treated with 1 of 3 prophylactic regimens: valganciclovir (900 mg daily; 27 patients), oral ganciclovir (1000 mg every 8 hours; 17 patients), or intravenous ganciclovir (6 mg/kg daily; 22 patients). Eight CMV cases occurred, all after completion of the prophylaxis. The combined incidence of CMV disease with intravenous and oral ganciclovir was lower than the incidence in valganciclovir recipients (P = 0.056; relative risk, 4.33; 95% confidence interval, 0.94-19.87). CMV disease occurred in 22.2% of valganciclovir recipients, 4.5% of intravenous ganciclovir recipients, and 5.9% of oral ganciclovir recipients. In conclusion, late-onset CMV disease occurred more frequently among high-risk liver transplant recipients treated with valganciclovir prophylaxis. The 4-fold higher incidence of CMV disease in our study supports the avoidance of valganciclovir for prophylaxis in high-risk OLT patients. Liver Transpl 15:963-967, 2009. (c) 2009 AASLD.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA. shileyk@uphs.upenn.edu
authors.forename: Kevin T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Shiley
authors.forename: Leanne B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Gasink
authors.forename: Todd D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Barton
authors.forename: Patrice
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pfeiffenberger
authors.forename: Kim M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Olthoff
authors.forename: Emily A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Blumberg
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001706:Biopsy; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000378:metabolism*; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D015774:Ganciclovir / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012306:Risk; D013997:Time Factors; D000077562:Valganciclovir
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077562:Valganciclovir; D015774:Ganciclovir