Cytomegalovirus Prevention in Liver Transplant Recipients: A Comparative Study of Universal and Preemptive Strategies with Valganciclovir

AuthorMohsen Aliakbarianen
AuthorFaezeh Majidianfaren
AuthorSeyed Sajjad Alavi Kakhkien
AuthorSaeed Javanshiren
AuthorMandana Khodashahien
AuthorKambiz Akhavan Rezayaten
AuthorMaliheh Dadgar Moghadamen
AuthorMahboobeh Ghasemzadeh Rahbardaren
AuthorRozita Khodashahien
OrcidMohsen Aliakbarian [0000-0002-5186-7152]en
OrcidSeyed Sajjad Alavi Kakhki [0000-0001-8450-8175]en
OrcidSaeed Javanshir [0009-0000-2459-645X]en
OrcidMaliheh Dadgar Moghadam [0000-0002-4797-8714]en
OrcidMahboobeh Ghasemzadeh Rahbardar [0000-0002-5491-572X]en
OrcidRozita Khodashahi [0000-0002-5360-7426]en
Accessioned Date2026-07-14T17:50:49Z
Issued Date2026-02-28en
AbstractBackground and Objectives: Universal prophylaxis and preemptive therapy are established strategies to prevent cytomegalovirus (CMV) after liver transplantation, yet their real-world comparative performance varies by center and risk mix. Methods: We conducted a single-center retrospective cohort of consecutive adult recipients transplanted from 2013 - 2021 in Mashhad, Iran. Exposure was the CMV-prevention strategy received (universal valganciclovir prophylaxis vs preemptive PCR-based monitoring). Primary outcomes were CMV viremia (PCR-confirmed) and CMV disease (clinical/histologic). Secondary outcomes were late-onset CMV (> 100 days post-transplant), acute rejection, and mortality. Multivariable logistic regression (and Cox proportional hazards where event dates were available) adjusted for calendar era, donor/recipient serostatus (D/R), immunosuppression regimen, monitoring protocol, age, and sex. Results: Among 475 recipients (universal valganciclovir: 170; preemptive monitoring: 305), CMV viremia occurred in 10/170 (5.9%) vs 18/305 (5.9%) (P = 0.993). Among the 28 infected patients, 23 (82.1%) were male. Onset timing was < 1 month in 6 (21.4%), 1 - 3 months in 9 (32.1%), and > 6 months in 13 (46.4%), indicating late-onset (> 3 months) in 22/28 (78.6%) overall. Conclusions: In this cohort, universal prophylaxis and preemptive monitoring showed no significant adjusted differences in CMV infection or disease. Given era effects and center-specific practices, policy selection should consider D/R risk, monitoring logistics, and late-onset CMV risk. Multicenter studies are warranted.en
DOIhttps://doi.org/10.5812/archcid-158027en
URIhttps://brieflands.com/journals/archcid/articles/158027en
URIhttps://repository.brieflands.com/handle/123456789/67997
KeywordCytomegalovirusen
KeywordLiver Transplantationen
KeywordValgancicloviren
KeywordAntiviral Prophylaxisen
KeywordGraft Rejectionen
PublisherBrieflandsen
TitleCytomegalovirus Prevention in Liver Transplant Recipients: A Comparative Study of Universal and Preemptive Strategies with Valgancicloviren
TypeResearch Articleen

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