| Abstract | Varicella zoster virus (VZV)-related disease, particularly herpes zoster, is a complication of organ transplantation due to long-term immunosuppression. We determined the incidence and risk factors for post-transplant VZV infection by retrospectively reviewing the medical records of a cohort of 612 adult renal transplant recipients transplanted at Mayo Clinic Rochester between October 1, 2001 and October 1, 2004. Thirty-seven subjects developed herpes zoster, corresponding to a follow-up time-adjusted incidence of 11.2% at 4 years post transplant. The incidence rate of zoster was relatively constant between 6 months and 4 years, yielding an average incidence of approximately 28 per 1000 person-years. The risk of developing post-transplant zoster increased with increasing age at transplant, with each decade conferring a 1.42-fold (P=0.009) increase in risk of zoster development. Seronegativity at time of transplant conferred over 3 times the risk of development of post-transplant zoster (hazard ratio 3.4; P=0.04) compared with seropositivity. Adult kidney transplant recipients are at high risk for the development of post-transplant zoster. |
| Authors | T Arness, R Pedersen, R Dierkhising, W Kremers, R Patel
(Affiliation: Mayo Medical School, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA.)
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| Journal | Transplant infectious disease : an official journal of the Transplantation Society
(Transpl Infect Dis)
Vol. 10
Issue 4
Pg. 260-8
(Jul 2008)
ISSN: 1399-3062 Denmark |
| PMID | 18086277
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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