title: Cytomegalovirus diseases after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: a mini-review.
abstract: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection remains a significant complication after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and may have a deleterious impact on the overall outcome after transplantation. In addition to the direct effects of CMV infection, tissue-invasive CMV diseases may be associated with increased risk of graft versus host disease, myelosuppression, and invasive bacterial and fungal infections. Because of these direct and indirect adverse effects, prevention of CMV infection, mostly through pre-emptive therapy, is one of the essential strategies that may improve outcomes of HSCT recipients. Management of CMV infection relies mainly on intravenous (IV) antiviral therapy with ganciclovir and foscarnet, with or without IV polyclonal immunoglobulins. Although viral resistance remains rare, better tolerated antiviral agents with less serious side effects are needed, and a few will be evaluated in phase III clinical trials in the near future.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Infection Control and Employee Health, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Ella J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Ariza-Heredia
authors.forename: Lior
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nesher
authors.forename: Roy F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Chemaly
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000502:physiology*; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D015774:Ganciclovir / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D012307:Risk Factors; D014775:Virus Activation
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D015774:Ganciclovir
keywords: Cytomegalovirus; Stem cell transplantation; Viral infections