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Organ-specific differences in the epidemiology of cytomegalovirus infections in high-risk (cytomegalovirus donor seropositive, recipient seronegative) solid organ transplant recipients with prolonged follow-up: A 10-year experience.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Heldman, MR; Maziarz, EK; Saullo, JL; Tam, PCK; Kothadia, S; Arif, S; Steinbrink, JM; Sim, BZ; Huggins, JP; Wolfe, CR; Seidenfeld, A; King, LY ...
Published in: Am J Transplant
March 26, 2026

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) causes significant morbidity in CMV donor seropositive/recipient seronegative (D+R-) solid organ transplant recipients, but organ-specific differences in CMV epidemiology and the utility of laboratory surveillance after prophylaxis (SAP) are not well characterized. We performed a single-center retrospective study of 540 CMV D+R- heart (n = 145), kidney (n = 216), or liver recipients (n = 179) who received 6 months of CMV prophylaxis followed by SAP for 12 weeks and were followed for at least 24 months after transplant. The cumulative incidence of clinically significant CMV infection (csCMVi) was higher in heart and liver recipients than in kidney recipients (66%, 65%, and 48%, respectively; P < .001). The first csCMVi episode after prophylaxis completion occurred significantly later in heart recipients (median 97 days after prophylaxis completion; interquartile range [IQR], 59-179 days) compared with kidney (median 54 days; IQR, 37-116 days; P = .004) and liver recipients (median 46 days; IQR, 32-63 days; P < .001). Of 75 heart recipients with csCMVi, 41 (55%) did not develop csCMVi until after the 12-week SAP period. Heart recipients had delayed csCMVi onset, and prolonged surveillance may be required for SAP to meaningfully reduce CMV disease risk. Strategies that promote durable CMV immune control are needed, and studies evaluating these approaches should prioritize CMV D+R- heart recipients.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Am J Transplant

DOI

EISSN

1600-6143

Publication Date

March 26, 2026

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Surgery
  • 3204 Immunology
  • 3202 Clinical sciences
 

Citation

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Heldman, M. R., Maziarz, E. K., Saullo, J. L., Tam, P. C. K., Kothadia, S., Arif, S., … Baker, A. W. (2026). Organ-specific differences in the epidemiology of cytomegalovirus infections in high-risk (cytomegalovirus donor seropositive, recipient seronegative) solid organ transplant recipients with prolonged follow-up: A 10-year experience. Am J Transplant. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajt.2026.03.017
Heldman, Madeleine R., Eileen K. Maziarz, Jennifer L. Saullo, Patrick C. K. Tam, Sonya Kothadia, Sana Arif, Julie M. Steinbrink, et al. “Organ-specific differences in the epidemiology of cytomegalovirus infections in high-risk (cytomegalovirus donor seropositive, recipient seronegative) solid organ transplant recipients with prolonged follow-up: A 10-year experience.Am J Transplant, March 26, 2026. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajt.2026.03.017.
Heldman MR, Maziarz EK, Saullo JL, Tam PCK, Kothadia S, Arif S, Steinbrink JM, Sim BZ, Huggins JP, Wolfe CR, Seidenfeld A, Ellis MJ, Katz-Greenberg G, King LY, Henson JB, McElory LM, DeVore AD, Lerman JB, Byrns J, Harris MT, Gommer J, Alexander BD, Baker AW. Organ-specific differences in the epidemiology of cytomegalovirus infections in high-risk (cytomegalovirus donor seropositive, recipient seronegative) solid organ transplant recipients with prolonged follow-up: A 10-year experience. Am J Transplant. 2026 Mar 26;
Journal cover image

Published In

Am J Transplant

DOI

EISSN

1600-6143

Publication Date

March 26, 2026

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Surgery
  • 3204 Immunology
  • 3202 Clinical sciences