Valganciclovir as CMV reactivation prophylaxis in patients receiving alemtuzumab for marrow failure syndromes

Valganciclovir prevents cytomegalovirus reactivation in patients receiving alemtuzumab-based therapy.

Alemtuzumab is an immunosuppressive antibody that depletes normal T cells and B cells. Prophylaxis for herpes virus and Pneumocystis carinii is standard with this agent. Approximately 20% to 25% of patients will experience cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation. We conducted a randomized trial wherein patients being treated with an alemtuzumab-containing regimen received prophylaxis with either val...

Distinct EBV and CMV reactivation patterns following antibody-based immunosuppressive regimens in patients with severe aplastic anemia.

The natural history of EBV and CMV reactivation and the potential for serious complications following antibody-based immunosuppressive treatment for bone marrow failure syndromes in the absence of transplantation is not known. We monitored blood for EBV and CMV reactivation by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) weekly in 78 consecutive patients (total of 99 immunosuppressive courses) with aplastic...

Oral Valganciclovir as a Preemptive Treatment for Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Infection in CMV-Seropositive Liver Transplant Recipients

OBJECTIVES Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections in liver transplant recipients are common and result in significant morbidity and mortality. Intravenous ganciclovir or oral valganciclovir are the standard treatment for CMV infection. The present study investigates the efficacy of oral valganciclovir in CMV infection as a preemptive treatment after liver transplantation. METHODS Between 2012 and 2...

Survival in patients with glioblastoma receiving valganciclovir.

Valganciclovir versus valaciclovir for prevention of alemtuzumab-induced cytomegalovirus reactivation: what are the implications for routine clinical practice?

I read with interest the recently published study by O’Brien et al1 on valganciclovir versus valaciclovir in prevention of cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation in patients with lymphoid malignancies treated with alemtuzumab-containing regimens. The study was terminated early after enrollment of 40 patients due to CMV reactivation in 7 of 20 patiens on valaciclovir versus 0 of 20 on valganciclovir...