Cytomegalovirus in Liver Transplant Patients

Abstract

Background: Graft survival in liver transplant recipients is significantly lower in patients with a history of CMV infection compared to those without. In the absence of any preventive therapy 75% of recipients develop CMV infection post liver transplant. Objectives: This study detected the incidence of cytomegalovirus in liver transplant patients and evaluated post-transplant risk factors for HCMV and its complications. Methodology: A prospective study was conducted from the September 2018 till March 2020. Sixty subjects were involved; 30 patients were admitted for liver transplantation at the Gastroenterology Surgery Center (GISC), Mansoura university, and 30 donors. MELD score was calculated, blood samples were taken, CMV antibodies and CMV DNA were detected. Post transplantation follow up for 6 months and complications were reported. Results: HCMV viremia was detected in 46.6% recipients and in 10% donors by PCR. One recipient was positive for IgM and the rest were IgG positive and all donors were IgG positive. The most common reported complication after liver transplantation was bacterial infections (46.4%). Conclusions: Half of patients developed CMV infection after transplantation. The commonest risk factors for posttransplant CMV infection were seropositive donor or recipient >60 AU/mL, HCV patients, body mass index >25 and DM. Patients with positive HCMV infection had significantly higher MELD score than those reported negative HCMV