Cytomegalovirus disease in renal transplant recipients: an Iranian experience

Cytomegalovirus is considered the most important infectious cause of mortality and morbidity in organ transplant recipients. In the current study, we evaluate the potential impact of cytomegalovirus infection and cytomegalovirus disease on the outcomes of renal allograft recipients under different conditions.

We retrospectively analyzed the data from 48 renal transplant recipients who had undergone a transplant at the Baqiyatallah Hospital in Tehran, Iran, between 1984 and 2007. We included all patients with valid laboratory test results for cytomegalovirus infection. Values for P less than .05 were considered statistically significant.

Overall, 48 patients (2.1%) were documented as developing cytomegalovirus disease. From these, 1 patient (2%) died, and 3 (6%) lost their allograft function. Compared with mycophenolic-acid-based triple immunosuppressive therapy, azathioprine was less likely to induce cytomegalovirus disease and also promised better survival (P < .0001 and P < .001). Being negative for the anti-cytomegalovirus IgG antibody and receiving an allograft from a positive donor also were associated with cytomegalovirus disease development and poorer patient survival (P = .03 and P < .0001).

Cytomegalovirus infection induces unfavorable outcomes in renal allograft recipients, especially when the infection occurs early on in the posttransplant phase. We suggest close monitoring of cytomegalovirus-positive patients and the use of less-intensive immunosuppressive treatments. Future prospective studies seem necessary.