A pilot trial of a novel cytomegalovirus immune globulin in renal transplant recipients

The prevention of cytomegalovirus infection in renal transplant would be highly desirable, so a CMV immune globulin with high antibody titers to CMV has been produced. This globulin has been modified from that described elsewhere so that it can be administered i.v. to provide larger quantities of CMV antibody than could be achieved by i.m. injection. Although i.m. cytomegalovirus immune globulin provided protection in CMV seronegative bone marrow transplant patients, who did not receive prophylactic granulocytes, the levels of achievable antibody to CMV were minimal. This report summarizes the authors' early experience in a pilot trial testing the safety and pharmacokinetics of such material in CMV-seronegative renal transplant recipients.