title: Monitoring and detection of cytomegalovirus in liver transplant recipients.
abstract: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a β-herpesvirus. CMV infections are a common complication contributing to morbidity and mortality after liver transplantation. Among organ transplant recipients, CMV can reactivate from latency during the first 6 months. This prospective study performed from February 2008 to December 2009 examined liver transplant recipients during the first 6 months. Two methods were performed to detect CMV infections: antigenemia (AGM) and nested (PCR). Ninety-four patients, including 72 men (76.6%) and 22 women (23.4%) underwent liver transplantation during this period. We analyzed 575 samples including 465 for AGM and PCR. Forty-three (9.25%) showed positive AGM as detected 2 to 179 days posttransplantation with a mean of 50 days and a median of 35 days, and 93/465 (20%) showed positive PCR at 0 to 186 days posttransplantation with a mean of 31 days and a median of 38 days. Among the 43 antigenemia patients, 38 samples were positive for up to 5 cells 18 of which were PCR-positive. Five samples were positive with more than 5 cells, including 3 that were PCR-positive. Only 4.51% had AGM and were PCR-positive in the same sample. Despite only 9.25% (43/465) showing AGM, the current study suggested the utility of routine monitoring to detect early CMV infection among liver transplantation patients seeking to reduce morbidity and mortality.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medical Science, Liver Transplantation Unit, State University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Milan
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Sampaio
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Guardia
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Pavan
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Andrade
authors.forename: S H A
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Bonon
authors.forename: S C B
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ataíde
authors.forename: I F S F
authors.initials: IF
authors.lastname: Boin
authors.forename: R S B
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Stucchi
mesh_terms: D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001938:Brazil; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000956:Antigens, Viral; D015415:Biomarkers; D004279:DNA, Viral; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents