valganciclovir and Liver-Failure

Topics: Acyclovir; Antiviral Agents; Herpes Simplex; Herpesvirus 1, Human; Humans; Immunocompetence; Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; Liver Failure; Male; Middle Aged; Valganciclovir

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) continues to be a significant posttransplant infectious complication after pediatric liver transplant (PLT). The optimal prevention strategy is not currently known. To assess current CMV prevention practices, a web-based survey was conducted within the North American Studies in Pediatric Liver Transplantation (SPLIT) network. Twenty-nine of the 31 centers (94%) surveyed responded. Only seven centers reported evidence-based development of protocols. For most at-risk (donor or recipient CMV seropositive) PLT recipients, a prophylactic strategy predominates current practice. For high-risk (D+/R-), only three centers used nonprophylaxis-based protocols: one preemptive and two sequential/hybrid. Duration of prophylaxis ranged from 84 to 730 days with 14 centers using around 100 days and nine centers using around 200 days. Initial therapy with ganciclovir followed by valganciclovir was the most common strategy. For lower-risk recipients (CMV D-/R-), more centers (10/29) employed a preemptive strategy while the remainder described prophylaxis (15) and sequential/hybrid (3) strategies. Prophylaxis predominates current CMV prevention strategies for at-risk recipients within SPLIT. The variation in duration of therapy provides the opportunity to perform comparative effectiveness studies within SPLIT.

Topics: Antiviral Agents; Child; Cytomegalovirus; Cytomegalovirus Infections; Ganciclovir; Humans; Liver Failure; Liver Transplantation; Pediatrics; Postoperative Complications; Risk; Surveys and Questionnaires; T-Lymphocytes; Time Factors; Tissue Donors; Treatment Outcome; Valganciclovir

An increased incidence and magnitude of leukopenia during concomitant treatment with valganciclovir (VGC) and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) has been reported.. To evalute the incidence and severity of leukopenia and neutropenia among liver recipients treated with VGC and related factors.. Retrospective analysis of clinical and analytical data related to leukopenia (<3000 leukocytes/mm(3)) and neutropenia (<900 neutrophils/mm(3)) in liver transplant patients who were treated with VGC from 2003 to 2007. We examined the influence of concomitant administration of MMF and development of subsequent infections.. Among 209 liver transplants, 40 treatments with VGC were prescribed in 37 patients (17.7%), 12 of which (30%) were associated with MMF. The patients has an average age of 49.7 +/- 12.7, body mass index (BMI) of 27.28 +/- 5.17, and Model for End-stage Liver Disease Score (MELD) 12.45 +/- 7.5. The daily average dose of VGC was 1440 +/- 446.5 mg and MMF, 1454.5 +/- 350.3 mg. We observed a decrease of 30% in initial leukocyte count (5353.7 +/- 2706.6) and 40% in neutrophil count (3600 +/- 2182.1). With no relationship to total dose or BMI-adjusted dose of VGC nor concomitant administration of MMF. The initial leukocyte count was significantly lower (4411 +/- 1930 vs 6206 +/- 3053; P = .03) and underwent a main drop (2344.7 +/- 1974.3 vs 898.1 +/- 2435.6; P = .04) when leukopenia developed. In the induced neutropenia group, previous leukocyte count (3797.1 +/- 1223.9 vs 5683.9 +/- 2829.3; P = .01), MELD (18.7 +/- 8.8 vs 11.1 +/- 6.6; P = .01), and the creatinine pretreatment (1.44 +/- 0.4 vs 1.09 +/- 0.3; P = .01) were significantly different. Subsequent infections induced by the leukopenia were not observed.. In our series, the concomitant use of VGC and MMF was not associated with a greater incidence of leukopenia and/or neutropenia than VGC administration alone. Previous leukocyte count was associated with them. MELD and renal dysfunction are factors related to severe neutropenia. Leukopenia was not associated with a greater incidence of infections.

Topics: Adult; Antiviral Agents; Body Mass Index; Creatinine; Cytomegalovirus Infections; Female; Ganciclovir; Graft Rejection; Humans; Immunosuppressive Agents; Incidence; Leukocyte Count; Leukopenia; Liver Failure; Liver Transplantation; Male; Middle Aged; Mycophenolic Acid; Neutropenia; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors; Valganciclovir