Primary CMV Infections Are Common in Kidney Transplant Recipients After 6 Months Valganciclovir Prophylaxis

Prolonging cytomegalovirus (CMV) prophylaxis in CMV seronegative recipients of a kidney from CMV seropositive donor (D+/R–) may reduce the incidence of late infections. We analyzed late‐onset primary CMV infections after 6 months valganciclovir prophylaxis. Data from all CMV D+/R– kidney transplant recipients between January 2004 and December 2008 at our center were analyzed. Patients with a functioning graft at 6 months after transplantation who received 6 months of valganciclovir prophylaxis 900 mg once daily were included (N = 127). CMV was diagnosed with quantitative PCR. Prophylaxis was completed in 119 patients. Prophylaxis was stopped at 3–5 months due to leukopenia or gastrointestinal side effects in eight patients. Late‐onset primary CMV infection developed in 47/127 (37%) patients median 244 days after transplantation (range 150–655) and median 67 days after the cessation of prophylaxis (range 1–475). Four infections were asymptomatic. In others, symptoms included fever (N = 28), gastrointestinal symptoms (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea) (N = 24), respiratory tract symptoms (N = 12), and hepatopathy (N = 6). Median peak viral load was 13500 copies/mL (range 400–2 831 000). Recurrent CMV infection developed in 9/47 (19%) patients. No significant risk factors for CMV infection were identified. Symptomatic primary CMV infections were commonly detected also after prolonged valganciclovir prophylaxis. In a retrospective analysis of 127 Finnish CMV D+/R− kidney transplant recipients who received 6 months valganciclovir prophylaxis, 37% developed late‐onset CMV infection after the end of prophylaxis and 43/47 of these infections were symptomatic.