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  • Title: A prospective study of the predictive value of polymerase chain reaction assay for cytomegalovirus in asymptomatic kidney transplant recipients.
    Author: Benedetti E, Mihalov M, Asolati M, Kirby J, Dunn T, Raofi V, Fontaine M, Pollak R.
    Journal: Clin Transplant; 1998 Oct; 12(5):391-5. PubMed ID: 9787946.
    Abstract:
    Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection carries the potential for high morbidity in transplant recipients. The institution of pre-emptive therapy prior to the onset of clinical disease on the basis of CMV-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is very attractive. We prospectively studied 52 asymptomatic kidney transplant recipients to test the hypothesis that serial CMV-PCR assays during the first 3 months post-transplant would identify patients at risk for CMV disease. Twenty-three patients (44.2%) had positive CMV-PCR tests at least once; 2 (8.6%) developed CMV. None of the 29 patients continuously negative for CMV-PCR developed CMV disease. CMV-PCR status did not influence patient and graft survival or the incidence of acute rejection. We conclude that while a substantial number of kidney transplant recipients become positive for CMV-PCR in the early post-transplant period, only a minority will develop CMV disease. Negative CMV-PCR assay is an accurate negative predictor for CMV disease but the value of CMV-PCR as a guide for pre-emptive anti-CMV therapy in kidney transplant recipients appears limited.
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