Study: Delayed Ganciclovir Use Protects Against Cytomegalovirus

Dr. J. Stephen Dummer reported in the journal Chest on a study of 54 patients who were started on two weeks of intravenous ganciclovir therapy 3 to 4 weeks after lung transplantation, with subsequent viral monitoring and preemptive therapy as needed. When not receiving ganciclovir, these patients received oral acyclovir for 6 months

Their study compared the cytomegalovirus outcomes to 33 patients who received the acyclovir or oral acyclovir and 2 to 4 weeks of ganciclovir early after transplantation.

The delayed regimen reduced the actuarial incidence of cytomegalovirus infection from 80 percent to 48 percent, and the incidence of cytomegalovirus disease from 31 percent to 10 percent, the researchers reported.

They said that while 12 of the 54 patients in the study group required additional intravenous antiviral treatment, total use of ganciclovir averaged only 18 days per patient.

"A regimen of cytomegalovirus prophylaxis employing 2 weeks of intravenous ganciclovir initiated 3 to 4 weeks after lung transplantation followed by virologic monitoring and preemptive therapy as needed provides good protection against cytomegalovirus disease," the researchers concluded.