Counterpoint: Prevention of Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Infection and CMV Disease in Recipients of Solid Organ Transplants: The Case for Prophylaxis

Abstract

Outside of improvements in immunosuppressive therapy, the control of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in solid organ transplantation has been considered as the most significant advance in organ transplantation to have taken place in the past 20 years [1]. As a result of prevention of CMV infection, both the direct and the indirect effects secondary to CMV replication have led to improved outcomes. CMV disease and disseminated CMV disease have virtually disappeared as clinical occurrences in most organ transplant recipients, and the effects that are indirectly associated with CMV disease, namely rejection and opportunistic infection, have been reduced dramatically [2–5]. As a consequence, there is improved survival and decreased cost for patients undergoing solid organ transplantation [6–9].