Cytomegalovirus Prevention in High-risk Lung Transplant Recipients: Comparison of 3- vs 12-Month Valganciclovir Therapy
Received 11 December 2008; received in revised form 24 February 2009; accepted 5 March 2009. published online 15 May 2009.
Background
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections are common after lung transplantation (LuTx) and have an influence on acute rejection rates and chronic organ dysfunction. The objective of this study was to determine the incidence of CMV infections by comparing a prolonged valganciclovir prophylaxis with a standard regimen in high-risk LuTx recipients.
Methods
A retrospective, single-center study was performed comparing two different CMV prophylactic regimens in high-risk LuTx recipients (D+/R−). The study population received either 3 months (Group A, 15 patients) or 12 months (Group B, 17 patients) of oral valganciclovir 900 mg/day in combination with CMV hyperimmune globulin in four doses (Days 1, 7, 14 and 21 post-transplant).
Results
CMV viremia was noted in 11 of 15 patients in Group A (75%) and 5 of 17 in Group B (33%) (p < 0.05) at 6 months after valganciclovir cessation. The incidence of symptomatic CMV disease/syndrome was 6 of 15 (44%) in Group A and 2 of 17 in Group B (13%) (p < 0.05). Histologically proven acute rejection episodes of ISHLT Grade ≥A2 were found in 4 patients in Group A and in 1 patient in Group B within the first year (p = 0.14).
Conclusions
A 12-month CMV prophylaxis with oral valganciclovir is effective in significantly reducing CMV viremia and CMV disease/syndrome in high-risk lung transplant recipients. In addition, a reduction in acute and recurrent rejection episodes was observed, possibly due to less CMV viremia and subsequent immunomodulatory effects.
aDepartment of Cardio-thoracic Surgery, General Hospital Vienna, Vienna, Austria
bInstitute of Clinical Virology, General Hospital Vienna, Vienna, Austria
Reprint requests: Peter Jaksch, MD, Department of Thoracic Surgery, General Hospital Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria. Telephone: 00-43-1-40400-7989. Fax: 00-43-1-40400-5642
ABSTRACT