Cytomegalovirus infection and kidney graft survival

Among 123 cadaveric renal allograft recipients transplanted in the period 1971-79, there were 18 with no evidence of past or present cytomegalovirus infection, 34 with primary infection and 71 with reactivated infection. One-year actuarial graft survival was 68%, 32% and 54%, respectively. The reasons for the better graft prognosis in the group without CMV infection were less rejection and fewer infections.