Standard versus extended primary cytomegalovirus prophylaxis in solid organ transplantation. Scientific Publication

Background and objective: We compared the efficacy and safety of standard vs. extended primary cytomegalovirus (CMV) prophylaxis in solid organ transplantation.

Materials and methods: Retrospective cohort study of CMV seronegative recipients who received CMV prophylaxis after solid organ transplantation from seropositive donor (D+/R-) (2007-2017). CMV infection in the first two years after transplantation in recipients with prophylaxis longer or shorter than 100 days were compared.

Results: CMV infection occurred in 29 of 66 patients (43.9%) with prophylaxis. Forty-five patients (68.2%) received extended prophylaxis. CMV infection and disease rates were not different between patients with extended and standard prophylaxis. However, extended prophylaxis was associated with a higher rate of myelotoxicity (68.9% vs. 42.9%, p<0.05).

Conclusions: Extending primary CMV prophylaxis over 100 days did not prevent late-onset infection but it was associated with hematological toxicity.

CITATION Med Clin (Barc). 2022 Jun 10;158(11):543-546. doi: 10.1016/j.medcli.2021.05.023. Epub 2021 Aug 2.