Impact of cytomegalovirus prophylaxis on rejection following orthotopic liver transplantation.

With improved cytomegalovirus (CMV) prophylaxis, CMV disease after liver transplantation has decreased dramatically, and patient and graft survival have improved. We examined the impact of CMV prophylaxis on biopsy proven rejection after orthotopic liver transplantation by analyzing data on 192 liver recipients over 5 years (1994-1999). Risk factors assessed for biopsy proven rejection including donor and recipient age, CMV serostatus; CMV prophylaxis; immunosuppression; bacteremia and blood product use were examined over a 2-year follow-up.

Viral prophylaxis in organ transplant patients.

Viral pathogens have emerged as the most important microbial agents having deleterious effects on solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients. Antiviral chemoprophylaxis involves the administration of medications to abort transmission of, avoid reactivation of, or prevent progression to disease from, active viral infection. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the major microbial pathogen having a negative effect on SOT recipients.

The clinical impact of ganciclovir prophylaxis on the occurrence of bacteremia in orthotopic liver transplant recipients.

Background: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection or receipt of a CMV-seropositive donor liver has been shown to be an independent predictor of bacteremia in orthotopic liver transplant (OLT) recipients. However, prevention of CMV infection through use of intense CMV prophylaxis has not been examined to assess the impact on bacteremia in liver transplant recipients.

Methods: We analyzed the impact of CMV prophylaxis on rates of bacteremia by examining 192 consecutive OLT recipients during a 2-year follow-up period.