Follow-up of 28 HCMV seropositive renal-transplant recipients: comparison of clinical, biological and virological parameters in the groups of treated versus untreated infected patients.

Background: A pre-emptive strategy for prevention of Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV) disease depends on accurate detection of HCMV infection and clinical and/or biological abnormalities.

Objectives: The aim of our study was to evaluate a therapeutic strategy based on the presence of either minimal clinical and/or biological symptoms or high HCMV viral load assessed by quantitative real-time PCR from whole blood as previously described.

Study Design: Between June 2002 and July 2003, 70 HCMV seropositive patients underwent a renal transplantation.