Central Nervous System Side Effects of Ganciclovir

Abstract
Ganciclovir is proving to be effective therapy in patients who have cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease.1 2 3 The only exceptions are recipients of bone marrow transplants and patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) who have CMV pneumonitis.4 5 6 The drug's most frequent side effects are neutropenia and thrombocytopenia.6 , 7 Laskin and Drew and their colleagues also noted changes in mental status in patients with AIDS. We now report central nervous system toxicity in a renal-transplant recipient.