Ganciclovir-resistant cytomegalovirus in organ transplant recipients

Clin Infect Dis. 2002 Oct 1;35(7):866-72. doi: 10.1086/342385. Epub 2002 Sep 10.

Abstract

Ganciclovir-resistant (GanR) cytomegalovirus (CMV) is an emerging clinical problem in organ transplant recipients, particularly recipients of kidney and pancreas and lung transplants. GanR CMV, a late posttransplantation complication, is observed predominantly among CMV-seronegative recipients of organs from seropositive donors, especially among recipients receiving intensive immunosuppression and having prolonged exposure to ganciclovir. Given the limitations of current diagnostic methods, if GanR CMV is clinically suspected, empirical treatment with intravenously administered foscarnet should be used in conjunction with reductions in immunosuppressive therapy and possibly CMV hyperimmune globulin. Better diagnostic tools and newer, less-toxic antiviral agents with different mechanisms of action are urgently needed to decrease the morbidity associated with this complication in organ transplant recipients.

MeSH terms

  • Antiviral Agents / pharmacology*
  • Cytomegalovirus / drug effects*
  • Cytomegalovirus Infections / diagnosis
  • Cytomegalovirus Infections / pathology
  • Drug Resistance, Microbial / physiology*
  • Ganciclovir / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Organ Transplantation / adverse effects*
  • Risk Factors

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Ganciclovir