Use of mTOR inhibitor as prophylaxis for cytomegalovirus disease after kidney transplantation: A natural experiment

Objectives To describe the incidence of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection/disease in kidney transplant recipients receiving an mTOR‐inhibitor‐containing immunosuppressive regimen without prophylactic CMV treatment. Methods This single‐center retrospective cohort analysis included all de novo kidney transplant recipients (09/15/2015‐07/31/2017) receiving 3 mg/kg single dose of rabbit antithymocyte globulin induction, tacrolimus, everolimus, and prednisone. Preemptive therapy was initiated only in patients deemed at higher risk for CMV infection: (a) D+/R− CMV patients; (b) after treatment for acute rejection (ARt); and (c) after everolimus discontinuation (EVRd). Results Of 230 patients, there were no episodes of CMV disease among 217 (94%) without criteria to initiate preemptive therapy. Of 77 (33.5%) patients initiating preemptive therapy, 13 were D+/R−, 30 were ARt, and 34 were EVRd. The overall incidence of first CMV infection/disease was 6% (46.1% in D+/R−, 13.3% ARt [all patients had also discontinued everolimus], and 11.8% after early [