What Doctors Don't Tell YouAnalysis of cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease among 240 liver, kidney and pancreas recipients has shown that the incidence of CMV is higher than previously thought.
A total of 25 patients had CMV disease within a year of transplantation. All had been taking oral ganciclovir to prevent the disease.
Five of these patients developed a ganciclovir resistant form of CMV infection with “serious clinical consequences”. Each had been taking particularly large doses of ganciclovir to suppress a likely immune reaction to the organ received (Lancet, 2000; 356: 645-9).
Daniel Redwood DC
Tom Ferguson MD
