[Prevention of cytomegalovirus infection: preemptive therapy versus universal prophylaxis]

Despite the advances made in the diagnosis and treatment of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection, this pathogen continues to cause substantial morbidity in solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients. The two main strategies for the prevention of CMV disease are universal prophylaxis and preemptive therapy. Several meta-analyses have found that both strategies are effective in the prevention of CMV disease in SOT recipients compared with placebo, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Nevertheless, few studies have compared the two approaches to CMV disease in SOT recipients. The present article provides a review of the indications of each of these strategies and the main studies on which they are based.