Cytomegalovirus disease in renal transplant recipients: A single-center experience

Objectives: Cytomegalovirus is the most common viral infection following kidney transplant, with overall frequencies of 50% to 80% for the infection and 20% to 60% for cytomegalovirus disease. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 689 kidney transplant recipients at Jeddah Kidney Center in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia between January 2000 and December 2005 for cytomegalovirus infection and disease. We examined the source of the donated kidneys (deceased versus living donor), the cytomegalovirus serostatus of the donor and recipient, the immunosuppressive protocol, the presence of cytomegalovirus prophylaxis, the clinical presentation of acute cytomegalovirus disease, the patient's response to treatment, and the effect of cytomegalovirus disease on graft and patient survival. Results: Of 689 kidney transplant recipients, 25 (3.6%) had acute cytomegalovirus disease. All 25 patients had cytomegalovirus IgG positive/IgM negative test results prior to transplant. We noticed 2 distinct groups of patients: the first group included 9 patients with cytomegalovirus syndrome, 6 of whom received cytomegalovirus prophylaxis with ganciclovir. All patients in this group had low cytomegalovirus viral loads on polymerase chain reaction, mild disease, and responded to treatment with complete recovery and no adverse effects with respect to themselves or their grafts. The second group included 16 patients with invasive cytomegalovirus disease, 3 of whom received cytomegalovirus prophylaxis. All patients in this group had very high cytomegalovirus viral loads on polymerase chain reaction. Thirteen patients in this group (81%) responded to treatment with full recovery, and normal graft function was maintained in 10 (62%). Of the original 16 patients in this group, 3 (18.8%) died from cytomegalovirus disease and its complications. Conclusions: We report a low incidence (3.6%) of cytomegalovirus disease at our center. Cytomegalovirus prophylaxis was associated with a milder form of the disease. At our center, treatment of invasive cytomegalovirus disease produced a patient survival rate of 81% and a graft survival rate of 62%.