DIAGNOSTIC APPROACH AND THERAPY FOR CYTOMEGALOVIRUS (CMV) INFECTION FOLLOWING ALLOGENEIC STEM CELL TRANSPLANTATION

Abstract

In spite of improvements in diagnostics and prevention of CMV disease in recent decades, CMV infection still remains major concern in terms of diagnosis and therapy in recipients of allogeneic stem cells. Besides considerable morbidity with direct effects of CMV infection (hepatitis, gastrointestinal disease, pneumonia, retinitis), there are also indirect effects such as increased susceptibility to opportunistic infections and an increased risk of graft rejection and transplant-related mortality. Also, myelosuppression, nephrotoxicity and emergence of drug-resistant CMV strains may limit the use of antiviral agents for the control of CMV infection. The aim of this paper is to show the problems associated with CMV infection in recipients of allogeneic stem cells with special emphasis on diagnostic procedures and treatment or prophylaxis of CMV disease.