Diagnostic Markers and Risk Factors of Cytomegalovirus Infection and Disease in Renal Allograft Recipients

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Abstract
In a prospective study, the incidences of CMV infection and disease were 56 and 23%, respectively, during the first 6 months following kidney transplantation. Viremia was found in all patients with CMV disease and arthralgia was present in 71% prior to the development of CMV disease. The positive predictive value for CMV disease reached up to 90% for viremia and arthralgia in combination. Viruria was poorly correlated to viremia and hence CMV disease. The majority of patients (93%) who developed CMV disease had a seropositive donor, and viremia was significantly more common in patients who received CMV-seropositive kidneys. CMV disease was more common in CMV-seronegative recipients than in seropositive recipients. The 1-year graft survival rate was 75% in the entire study group. In patients with CMV viremia and disease, the rates were 78 and 73%, respectively. Antiviral treatment was initiated within 3 weeks of viremia detection in the 6 patients with CMV disease who survived. We found that the combination of arthralgia and viremia was a useful predictor of CMV disease and that recipients of CMV-seropositive allografts were at a greater risk of developing CMV disease. To obtain an early diagnosis and commence an early treatment of CMV disease, patients prone to develop CMV disease should be identified and clinical examination and viremia surveillance should be performed regularly.