Cytomegalovirus Infection Renal Transplant Recipients: Risk Factors and Outcome

Objective

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the most common viral infection after allotransplantation; it can be a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Our aim was to analyze the main risk factors that lead to development of CMV infection and disease.

Patients and Methods

We retrospectively analyzed 207 patients who received a renal allograft from May 2003 to December 2007. Three patients (D−/R−) were excluded. CMV infection was defined by the detection of 2 or more positive tests for pp65 antigenemia and CMV disease by evidence of attributable symptoms in need of antiviral treatment.

Results

Thirty-two patients (15.7%) presented active CMV infections and another 35 (17.2%), CMV disease. The mean follow-up was 27.8 ± 17 months. Prior to transplantation, 9.2% of patients were seronegative (D+/R−) and 77.9% seropositive (D+/R+). Compared with noninfected patients, those with CMV infection/disease were older and received an allograft from an older donor. Upon logistic regression analysis, recipient age older than 55 years, induction therapy with Thymoglobulin, and maintenance immunosuppression with cyclosporine were the major risk factors to develop CMV disease. An early acute rejection episode was more frequent and renal function measured by serum creatinine poorer until 18 months posttransplantation among CMV-infected versus noninfected patients.

Conclusions

Our data showed that CMV infection is a common complication after kidney transplantation associated with older age, induction treatment with antilymphocyte globulin, worse renal function, and increased patient morbidity.