Valganciclovir to prevent or treat cytomegalovirus disease in organ
transplantation.
Author(s): Manuel O, Perrottet N, Pascual M.
Affiliation(s): Transplantation Center, University Hospital of Lausanne (CHUV), 1011 Lausanne,
Switzerland. oriol.manuel@chuv.ch
Publication date & source: 2011, Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther. , 9(11):955-65
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is generally considered the most significant pathogen to
infect patients following organ transplantation. Significant improvements have
been achieved in the management of CMV disease over recent years, especially
since the introduction of oral drugs such as oral ganciclovir followed by
valganciclovir (VGC), a prodrug of ganciclovir with enhanced bioavailability.
Several randomized controlled trials have shown that VGC is an efficacious and
convenient oral drug to prevent or treat CMV disease in solid-organ transplant
recipients. In this article, we discuss the clinical and pharmacological
experience with the use of VGC for the management of CMV in solid-organ
transplant recipients. Finally, novel strategies to further reduce the incidence
of CMV disease after transplantation are also reviewed.
|