Comparison of Outcomes in Heart Transplant Recipients Receiving CMV Prophylaxis with CMV IVIG with Valganciclovir versus Valganciclovir Alone

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) remains one of the most common opportunistic infections affecting orthotopic heart transplant (OHT) patients, with seronegative (R-) recipients receiving transplants from seropositive donors (D+) being at the highest risk. CMV intravenous immune globulin (CMV IVIG) use for prophylaxis has been limited since the release of valganciclovir (VGC) due to efficacy, infusion-related toxicities, and cost. The ISHLT guidelines for the care of heart transplant recipients state there may be a role for CMV IVIG in high risk (D+/R-) OHT in combination with VCG, but it is not clearly defined.
Source: The Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation - Category: Transplant Surgery Authors: Tags: (1225) Source Type: research