Preemptive therapy for cytomegalovirus based on real-time measurement of viral load in liver transplant recipients

HY Sun, TV Cacciarelli, MM Wagener, N Singh - Transplant immunology, 2010 - Elsevier
BACKGROUND: Real-time PCR has emerged as the preferred diagnostic assay for CMV.
However, its utility as a preemptive therapy tool for CMV disease and related outcomes in
liver transplant recipients has not been fully defined. METHODS: Patients comprised 117
consecutive liver transplant recipients who underwent CMV surveillance monitoring using
real-time PCR. Preemptive therapy with valganciclovir was employed upon detection of
viremia. Baseline viral load was considered high based on log values (median). RESULTS …