Does Cytomegalovirus Develop Resistance following Antiviral Prophylaxis and Treatment in Renal Transplant Patients in Kuwait?

The resistance of cytomegalovirus (CMV) to ganciclovir or valganciclovir is a factor in therapeutic failure and disease progression. CMV strains resistant to ganciclovir or valganciclovir have been associated with specific mutations in the UL97 and UL54 genes. Sequencing of both CMV UL97 and UL54 genes was performed to detect the presence of CMV antiviral resistance in six patients who received ganciclovir (and/or valganciclovir) and had prolonged detectable CMV DNA in their blood during antiviral treatment.

Cytomegalovirus genotypes gB1 and gH1 are the most predominant genotypes among renal transplant recipients in Kuwait.

Background: The human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a common pathogen responsible for asymptomatic and persistent infections in healthy individuals. However, cytomegalovirus infections are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients, especially in recipients of solid-organ transplants and AIDS patients.

Methods: HCMV DNA from 42 patients who received kidney transplants between 2004 and 2008 were subjected to polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism to identify HCMV gB and gH genotypes.

Active management of post-renal transplantation BK virus nephropathy: preliminary report.

Objective: To assess the efficacy of leflunomide, intravenous immunoglobulins, and ciprofloxacin as active treatment of postrenal transplant BK virus nephropathy (BKVN) in graft outcome at 1 year.

Patients And Methods: Renal transplant recipients with positive results of 2 BK virus polymerase chain reaction tests of urine and blood underwent graft biopsy to confirm BKVN. If BKVN was diagnosed, antimetabolite therapy (mycophenolate mofetil or azathioprine) was changed to leflunomide therapy accompanied by a course of immunoglobulin and oral ciproflxacin.

Low levels of Th1-type cytokines and increased levels of Th2-type cytokines in kidney transplant recipients with active cytomegalovirus infection.

Background: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is a major complication after kidney transplantation. It is clear that Th1 and Th2 cell subsets are of major importance in determining the class of immunoprotective function in infectious diseases. Given the strong influence exerted by Th1- and Th2-type immunity on the outcome of infections, we felt it important to elucidate the levels of Th1- and Th2-type cytokines to CMV-related antigens in kidney recipients and to identify antigens that play an essential role in preventing the development of CMV infection and/or disease.

Diarrhoeagenic Escherichia coli are not a significant cause of diarrhoea in hospitalised children in Kuwait.

Background: The importance of diarrhoeagenic Escherichia coli (DEC) infections in the Arabian Gulf including Kuwait is not known. The prevalence of DEC (enterotoxigenic [ETEC], enteropathogenic [EPEC], enteroinvasive [EIEC], enterohemorrhagic [EHEC] and enteroaggregative [EAEC]) was studied in 537 children < or = 5 years old hospitalised with acute diarrhoea and 113 matched controls from two hospitals during 2005-07 by PCR assays using E. coli colony pools.