Adenovirus infections in heart transplantation

Cardiol Rev. 2013 Jul-Aug;21(4):203-6. doi: 10.1097/CRD.0b013e31828da5b7.

Abstract

Adenovirus infections have been associated with significant morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised hosts. The clinical significance of adenovirus disease in heart transplantation is not well-defined; in particular, the significance of adenovirus identification in myocardium remains unclear. Although severe adenovirus disease has been described in heart transplant recipients, adenovirus infections seem to be more frequently associated with increased risk of adverse cardiac events, such as rejection, ventricular dysfunction, coronary vasculopathy, need for retransplantation, and graft loss because of death. Cidofovir is currently considered the standard of treatment for adenovirus disease not responding to reduction of immunosuppression.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adenovirus Infections, Human / complications*
  • Adenovirus Infections, Human / drug therapy
  • Adenovirus Infections, Human / epidemiology*
  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use
  • Cidofovir
  • Coronary Disease / epidemiology
  • Cytosine / analogs & derivatives
  • Cytosine / therapeutic use
  • Graft Rejection / epidemiology
  • Heart Transplantation / adverse effects*
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Opportunistic Infections / complications*
  • Opportunistic Infections / drug therapy
  • Opportunistic Infections / epidemiology*
  • Organophosphonates / therapeutic use
  • Risk Factors
  • Ventricular Dysfunction / epidemiology

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Organophosphonates
  • Cytosine
  • Cidofovir