Tailored combined cytomegalovirus management in lung transplantation: a retrospective analysis.

Background: There is no univocal prophylactic regimen to prevent cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection/disease in lung transplantation (LT) recipients. The aim of this study is to evaluate short-term clinical outcomes of a tailored combined CMV management approach.

Methods: After 1-year follow up, 43 LT patients receiving combined CMV prophylaxis with antiviral agents and CMV-specific IgG were evaluated in a retrospective observational study. Systemic and lung viral infections were investigated by molecular methods on a total of 1134 whole blood and 167 bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and biopsy specimens. CMV immunity was assessed by ELISPOT assay. Clinical and therapeutic data were also evaluated.

Results: We found 2/167 cases of CMV pneumonia (1.2%), both in the donor-positive/recipient-positive (D/R) population, and 51/167 cases of CMV pulmonary infection (BAL positivity 30.5%). However, only 32/167 patients (19.1%) were treated due to their weak immunological response at CMV ELISPOT assay. Viremia ⩾100,000 copies/mL occurred in 33/1134 specimens (2.9%). Regarding CMV-serological matching (D/R), the D/R population had more CMV viremia episodes ( < 0.05) and fewer viremia-free days ( < 0.001).

Conclusions: Compared to previous findings, our study shows a lower incidence of CMV pneumonia and viremia despite the presence of a substantial CMV load. In addition, our findings further confirm the D/R group to be a high-risk population for CMV viremia. Overall, a good immunological response seems to protect patients from CMV viremia and pneumonia but not from CMV alveolar replication.