Impact of Pharmacist Involvement in Early Identification and Enrollment in Patient Assistance Programs on CMV Outcomes in Transplantation

Background: No data exist evaluating the utilization of patient assistance programs (PAPs) on cytomegalovirus (CMV)-related outcomes. Objective: To determine whether early identification and enrollment in PAPs can prevent CMV-related events. Methods: Retrospective analysis of patients at risk of CMV reactivation who received kidney and/or pancreas transplants. Two groups were evaluated with patients receiving oral valganciclovir for CMV prophylaxis through enrollment in PAPs or oral acyclovir with preemptive CMV monitoring. Primary outcomes include the incidence of CMV infection. Secondary outcomes include a cost benefit analysis, incidence of rejection, patient/graft survival, and time to CMV infection. Results: There were 97 patients identified; valganciclovir through PAPs (n = 39) and preemptive CMV quantitative nucleic acid testing monitoring (n = 58). The incidence of CMV viremia was lower in the PAP group (12.8% vs 36.2%, respectively; P = .021). There were no significant differences in CMV syndrome/disease, acute rejection, graft loss, or death between the groups. The time to CMV infection was shorter in the preemptive group. Cost benefit analysis found that hiring a full time pharmacy employee for enrolling patients in PAPs was cost beneficial for the institution/health care system. Conclusion: Early identification and enrollment of patients in PAPs reduces the incidence of CMV viremia. Pharmacists play a crucial role in this process.