Valganciclovir prophylaxis versus preemptive therapy in cytomegalovirus-positive renal allograft recipients: 1-year results of a randomized clinical trial.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) prevention can be achieved by prophylaxis or preemptive therapy. We performed a prospective randomized trial to determine whether renal transplant recipients with a positive CMV serostatus (R+) had a higher rate of CMV infection and disease after transplantation when treated preemptively for CMV infection, compared with primary valganciclovir prophylaxis.

METHODS:

Prophylaxis was 2 × 450 mg oral valganciclovir/day for 100 days; preemptive patients were monitored by CMV-polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and after a positive PCR test received 2 × 900 mg valganciclovir/day for at least 14 days followed by secondary prophylaxis. Valganciclovir dosage was adjusted according to renal function. Patients are followed up for 5 years and initial 12-month data are presented. Two hundred and ninety-six recipients were analyzed (168 donor/recipient seropositive [D+/R+], 128 donor seronegative/recipient seropositive [D-/R+]; 146 receiving prophylaxis and 150 preemptive therapy).

RESULTS:

Overall, CMV infection (asymptomatic CMV viral load ≥ 400 CMV DNA copies/mL proven by CMV-PCR) was significantly higher in recipients under preemptive therapy (38.7% vs. 11.0%, P<0.0001), with the highest incidence in D+/R+ preemptive patients (53.8% vs. 15.6%, P<0.0001). D+/R+ recipients with preemptive therapy also had the highest rate of CMV disease (CMV syndrome and tissue-invasive disease that was clinically diagnosed and biopsy proven) (19.2% vs. 4.4%, P=0.003). Renal function assessed by creatinine clearance was similar for both groups. Graft loss occurred in 7 vs. 4 patients on preemptive versus prophylactic therapy (P>0.05). Tolerability was similar for both treatment groups.

CONCLUSIONS:

Oral valganciclovir prophylaxis significantly reduces CMV infection and disease, particularly for D+/R+ patients. Hence, our study supports routine prophylaxis for all D+/R+ recipients.

• Authors: Oliver Witzke, Ingeborg A Hauser, Michael Bartels, Gunter Wolf, Heiner Wolters, Martin Nitschke, VIPP Study Group
• Journal: Transplantation (Transplantation) Vol. 93 Issue 1 Pg. 61-8 (Jan 15 2012) ISSN: 1534-6080 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 22094954 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antiviral Agents
• Valganciclovir
• Ganciclovir

Topics

• Administration, Oral
• Adult
• Aged
• Antiviral Agents (administration & dosage, adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Austria
• Cytomegalovirus Infections (drug therapy, epidemiology, prevention & control)
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Ganciclovir (administration & dosage, adverse effects, analogs & derivatives, therapeutic use)
• Germany
• Graft Rejection (physiopathology)
• Graft Survival (physiology)
• Humans
• Incidence
• Kidney Transplantation (physiology)
• Longitudinal Studies
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Prospective Studies
• Retrospective Studies
• Transplantation
• Transplantation, Homologous
• Treatment Outcome
• Valganciclovir