Late cytomegalovirus infection in children: High incidence of allograft rejection and hepatitis in donor negative and seropositive liver transplant recipients

The complications and outcome associated with late CMV infection and disease on the graft are poorly characterized in PLT recipients. We studied the overall incidence, risk factors, and outcome of late CMV infection and disease (infection 6 months after transplant) in 180 PLT recipients admitted between 2008 and 2011 at the King's College Hospital. Antiviral prophylaxis of intravenous ganciclovir was given only to the D+R− group starting at day 7 post‐transplant. The remaining groups (D−R+, D+R+, and D−R−) received pre‐emptive therapy when they have CMV viremia above cut‐off value and treatment for symptomatic CMV infection. The overall incidence of late CMV infection and disease was 9.4% (19/180) and 14.5% (19/130) in D+R−, D−R+, D+R− groups. The D−R+ group had the highest incidence of hepatitis (37.5%) and significantly increased incidence of CMV disease, and single and multiple acute rejection episodes when compared to the D+R− group, which received prophylaxis. The late CMV infection and disease in pediatric LT recipients was comparable to adult LT recipients despite variable duration of antiviral prophylaxis. Our results show that D−R+ group had highest rate of hepatitis and rejection episodes, associated with high morbidity, and should be considered for antiviral prophylaxis.