Epidemiology, management, and burden of cytomegalovirus in solid organ transplant recipients in selected countries outside of Europe and North America: A systematic review

Background Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a frequent infectious complication following solid organ transplantation (SOT). Considering significant differences in healthcare systems, a systematic review was conducted to describe the epidemiology, management, and burden of CMV post‐SOT in selected countries outside of Europe and North America. Methods MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane databases were searched for observational studies in SOT recipients across 15 countries in the regions of Asia, Pacific, and Latin America (search period: January 1, 2011 to September 17, 2021). Outcomes included incidence of CMV infection/disease, recurrence, risk factors, CMV‐related mortality, treatment patterns and guidelines, refractory and/or resistant CMV, patient‐reported outcomes, and economic burden. Results Of 2708 studies identified, 49 were eligible (n = 43/49; 87.8% in adults; n = 34/49, 69.4% in kidney recipients). Across studies, selection of CMV preventive strategy was based on CMV serostatus. Overall, rates of CMV infection (within 1 year) and CMV disease post‐SOT were respectively, 10.3%–63.2% (9 studies) and 0%–19.0% (17 studies). Recurrence occurred in 35.4%–41.0% cases (3 studies) and up to 5.3% recipients died of CMV‐associated causes (11 studies). Conventional treatments for CMV infection/disease included ganciclovir (GCV) or valganciclovir. Up to 4.4% patients were resistant to treatment (3 studies); no studies reported on refractory CMV. Treatment‐related adverse events with GCV included neutropenia (2%–29%), anemia (13%–48%), leukopenia (11%–37%), and thrombocytopenia (13%–24%). Data on economic burden were scarce. Conclusion Outside of North America and Europe, rates of CMV infection/disease post‐SOT are highly variable and CMV recurrence is frequent. CMV resistance and treatment‐associated adverse events, including myelosuppression, highlight unmet needs with conventional therapy. Outside of North America and Europe, rate of CMV infection/disease post‐SOT is highly variable and CMV recurrence is frequent. CMV resistance and treatment‐associated adverse events, including myelosuppression, highlight unmet needs with conventional therapy.