Organ Transplantation Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Organ Transplantation, including details on risks, prognosis, procedure, surgery.

A prospective assessment of valganciclovir for the treatment of cytomegalovirus infection and disease in transplant recipients.

Humar A, Siegal D, Moussa G, Kumar D

Division of Infectious Diseases and Multi-Organ Transplant Program, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada. atul.humar@uhn.on.ca

We assessed valganciclovir for the treatment of cytomegalovirus (CMV) in organ-transplant recipients. Virologic and clinical outcomes were compared with those in matched historical control individuals. Thirty-two patients (23 with symptomatic disease) received valganciclovir, and 32 patients received intravenous (iv) ganciclovir. The rate of virologic clearance by day 21 of therapy was similar in the valganciclovir arm (50.0%) and the ganciclovir arm (46.9%) (P value not significant). The change from baseline viral load by day 7 and day 14 of therapy was similar in both arms. Two patients treated with valganciclovir required a switch to iv ganciclovir, because of a lack of response. Valganciclovir is useful for the treatment of CMV infection and disease in selected organ-transplant recipients.

Published 1 September 2005 in J Infect Dis, 192(7): 1154-7.
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