Cytomegalovirus Infection in Organ Transplant Recipients: Diagnosis, Prevention and Treatment

Abstract

The most common infectious complication after first month of solid organ transplants is cytomegalovirus (CMV). Both direct such as viral syndrome, hepatitis, pneumonitis, colitis, etc. and indirect consequences such as rejection, infections by other microorganisms and graft dysfunction, are carried on by the virus. Latent infection, active infection, viral syndrome, and invasive disease are the four types of infection that can emerge due to transmission from the transplanted organ, reactivation of latent infection, or after a primary infection in seronegative individuals. Typically, this syndrome appears 30 to 90 days following transplantation. Several antiviral medications, including acyclovir, valacyclovir, ganciclovir, and valganciclovir, are being used for CMV prophylaxis and therapy. Furthermore, these antiviral medications are toxic and have serious adverse effects, including drug resistance, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, renal failure, and neuropsychiatric symptoms. We attempted to discuss CMV risk factors, laboratory diagnosis, prevention, treatment and therapeutic in this review study with regard to organ transplantation.