Management of cytomegalovirus infection after liver transplantation.

C ytomegalovirus (CMV) is a ubiquitous herpes virus that, together with human herpesvirus type 6 (HHV-6) and HHV-7, belongs to the β-herpesvirus family. Like other herpes viruses, CMV establishes lifelong latent infections. Infection with CMV is common in all populations, but is infrequently associated with symptomatic illness in healthy hosts. However, CMV is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in transplant recipients. CMV infection is the single most common opportunistic infection after solidorgan transplantation and directly and indirectly affects the outcome after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT).