Cytomegalovirus disease in post-renal transplant patients: An Indian experience - A prospective observational study

Abstract

Background: Cytomegalovirus is an important viral pathogen causing infection in immunodeficient patient especially in solid organ transplant like renal transplant. This study aims to evaluate the prevalence and clinical impact of CMV infection in renal transplant patients in a tertiary care hospital in Northern India. Materials and Methods: 145 renal transplant patients were tested for cytomegalovirus DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and for presence of IgM and IgG antibody against cytomegalovirus by ELISA. PCR amplified product were detected by Agarose gel electrophoresis. Results: Out of 145 transplant patients CMV Viremia was detected by PCR in 16(11.0%) patients. Two patients died in the study period in which one patient had HBV and other had HCV infection. IgM antibody against CMV was detected in one out of 145 donors while IgG anti-CMV antibody was detected in all 145 donors and recipients by ELISA. Two out of 145 transplant recipients had positive CMV PCR in pre-transplant period, and both had positive CMV PCR in post-transplant period. Out of sixteen positive patients histopathology changes of CMV disease was found in 2 patients (12.5%). Conclusion: Cytomegalovirus disease is major cause of morbidity and mortality in renal transplant patients. PCR to detect specific CMV genome sequences is important tool for early diagnosis and specific anti viral therapy. In our study out of 145 transplant patients, CMV Viremia was detected by PCR in 16 patients (11.0%). Two patients in the study period died, in which one patient had HBV and other had HCV infection, remaining patients survived with varying range of serum creatinine levels. Diagnostic histological changes of CMV is seen only in minority of cases(12.5%) who are positive by PCR for CMV.