Cytomegalovirus Infection After Liver Transplantation: Prophylaxis and Preemptive Treatment—A Single-Center Experience

Abstract Background Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection represents one of the most frequent opportunistic infections following solid-organ transplantation. The incidence and severity of CMV infection depend on the immunosuppressive regimen, the CMV serostatus of donor and recipient, and the type of transplant. Methods We evaluated CMV infection rates during the last 2 years in our center: March 2007 to March 2009. We enrolled 55 patients—13 females and 42 males—who underwent liver transplantation (OLT) due to hepatitis C virus (HCV) cirrhosis ( n = 9), hepatitis B virus (HBV) cirrhosis ( n = 5) HCC both on HCV and HBV cirrhosis ( n = 37), or autoimmune disease ( n = 4). Fifty percent of the patients received tacrolimus (TRL) and the others cyclosporine (CsA), both dosed according to weight. All patients received oral acyclovir (400 mg/td or less, adapted to renal function) as herpes simplex prophylaxis for 6 months. CMV prophylaxis prescribed CMV- hyperimmunoglobulin on postoperative days 1 and 7. CMV infection was monitored using polymerase chain reaction (PCR