[Prevention of cytomegalovirus disease in lung transplantation]

Abstract

Lung transplant recipients, more than other organ transplant recipients, are at particular risk for cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and disease. CMV prevention avoids the indirect effects of this virus, such as opportunistic fungal infections and obliterative bronchiolitis, the latter being the major limiting factor in the long-term success of lung-transplantation. CMV prevention strategies have significantly reduced CMV disease and CMV-related mortality. Two major strategies are commonly used for CMV prevention: universal prophylaxis and preemptive therapy. In lung transplant recipients, the efficacy and safety of preemptive treatment have not been studied and therefore, cannot be recommended. Universal prophylaxis is the best strategy for preventing CMV disease in lung transplant recipients. There is no consensus on the optimal duration of prophylaxis, but the recently published GESITRA-SEIMC/REIPI 2011 Guidelines for the management of CMV infection in solid-organ transplant patients recommend 6 months posttransplantation. In D+/R- recipients, this period can be prolonged to 12 months if there are difficulties in monitoring at 6 months posttransplantation. The future of prevention will probably depend on immunoguided strategies.