Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate pp65 antigen-guided antiviral therapy in preventing human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection in solid organ transplant recipients.
Methods: Ten kidney and two liver transplant recipients with asymptomatic HCMV infection were randomized either for i.v. ganciclovir or placebo treatment in a prospective, double-blind study. All patients were positive by HCMV pp65 antigen test at levels >5 positive cells/2 x 10(5) investigated cells.
Results: No cases of HCMV end-organ disease occurred. In contrast to patients on placebo (5/7), none of the patients on ganciclovir (0/5) developed HCMV-associated symptoms (P=0.01). However, because of the small number of patients, all three high-risk patients (donor seropositive, recipient seronegative) were randomized to placebo and all three developed symptoms.
Conclusions: Preemptive antiviral therapy guided by the pp65 antigen test seems to have a beneficial effect on preventing HCMV-associated symptoms in kidney and liver transplant recipients.