[Cytomegalovirus infection and disease in pediatric solid organ transplantation. Experience in a Chilean multiorganic transplantation center].

Unlabelled: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and disease in transplant (Tx) recipients may severely complicate the patients outcome.

Aim: To determine the incidence, clinical characteristics and risk factors for CMV infection and disease in liver and kidney transplant recipients in a tertiary care children's hospital.

Method: A clinical and laboratory evaluation was prospectively performed in 44 and 20 children receiving a renal and liver Tx respectively in the Hospital Luis Calvo Mackenna between 2004 and 2006.

Results: At the time of the organ Tx 20.3% (13/64) children were seronegative for CMV. Thirty six per cent (23/64) patients were infected with CMV, of whom 32% (14/44) received kidney Tx and 9/20 (45%) received liver Tx. CMV disease occurred in 52% (12/23) of infected patients. CMV disease was characterized by fever (100%), anemia (50%), leucopenia (16.6%) and specific organ involvement (renal graft 60% liver graft 57.1%, lung 25%, intestine 16.6%). Variables significantly associated with infection were a CMV seronegative status (p = 0.035) and lower age 5.5 + 3.7 years old vs 8.3 + 4.4 years old (p = 0.01).

Conclusions: Incidence of CMV infection was high in children receiving a solid organ transplant in our institution and near half of infected children developed CMV-associated disease.