title: Leflunomide: a treatment option for ganciclovir-resistant cytomegalovirus infection after renal transplantation.
abstract: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection after renal transplantation is a problem of increasing concern resulting in significant morbidity and mortality. Widespread use of ganciclovir (GCV) and valganciclovir (VGCV) may cause an increase of CMV resistance to these first line drugs. Other treatment options are sparse and often complicated by adverse events, namely nephrotoxicity associated with foscarnet and cidofovir. Leflunomide may be another treatment option for CMV infections. So far it is not clear if leflunomide can also be used in the case of GCV-resistant CMV infections. Here we describe the use of leflunomide in two patients after renal transplantation with GCV-resistant CMV infections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery , Ludwig-Maximilian's University , Grosshadern, Munich , Germany.
authors.forename: Joachim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Andrassy
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery , Ludwig-Maximilian's University , Grosshadern, Munich , Germany.
authors.forename: Wilf Dieter
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Illner
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery , Ludwig-Maximilian's University , Grosshadern, Munich , Germany.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rentsch
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology , Ludwig-Maximilian's University , Munich , Germany.
authors.forename: Gundula
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jaeger
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery , Ludwig-Maximilian's University , Grosshadern, Munich , Germany.
authors.forename: Karl W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Jauch
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine , Ludwig-Maximilian's University , IS, Munich , Germany.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fischereder
keywords: CMV; ganciclovir; leflunomide; renal transplantation