Valganciclovir Prophylaxis Versus Preemptive Therapy for Cytomegalovirus in Living Donor Kidney Transplant Recipients

Summary

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection remains one of the most frequent infectious complications after kidney transplantation. In intermediate-risk recipients (seropositive, R+ recipient) of living donor kidney transplants, optimal prevention strategies remain debated, particularly in the setting of basiliximab-based induction therapy. This open-label clinical trial aims to compare the incidence of CMV infection or disease in intermediate-risk (R+) living donor kidney transplant recipients receiving valganciclovir prophylaxis versus a preemptive therapy strategy. All patients receive basiliximab-based immunosuppression as part of standard clinical practice. Participants were enrolled between March 1, 2024 and July 31, 2025. Patients are followed for 12 months post-transplantation to assess the primary outcome of CMV infection or disease. Secondary outcomes include graft function, acute rejection episodes, and other infectious complications. The results of this study may help define the optimal CMV prevention strategy in intermediate-risk living donor kidney transplant recipients under basiliximab-based immunosuppression.

Timeline

Start

2024-03-01

Primary completion

2026-07-31

Completion

2026-07-31

Publications

• Background Andrade-Sierra J, Heredia-Pimentel A, Rojas-Campos E, Ramirez Flores D, Cerrillos-Gutierrez JI, Miranda-Diaz AG, Evangelista-Carrillo LA, Martinez-Martinez P, Jalomo-Martinez B, Gonzalez-Espinoza E, Gomez-Navarro B, Medina-Perez M, Nieves-Hernandez JJ. Cytomegalovirus in renal transplant recipients from living donors with and without valganciclovir prophylaxis and with immunosuppression based on anti-thymocyte globulin or basiliximab. Int J Infect Dis. 2021 Jun;107:18-24. doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2021.04.032. Epub 2021 Apr 14.
• Background Witzke O, Hauser IA, Bartels M, Wolf G, Wolters H, Nitschke M; VIPP Study Group. Valganciclovir prophylaxis versus preemptive therapy in cytomegalovirus-positive renal allograft recipients: 1-year results of a randomized clinical trial. Transplantation. 2012 Jan 15;93(1):61-8. doi: 10.1097/TP.0b013e318238dab3.
• Background Witzke O, Nitschke M, Bartels M, Wolters H, Wolf G, Reinke P, Hauser IA, Alshuth U, Kliem V. Valganciclovir Prophylaxis Versus Preemptive Therapy in Cytomegalovirus-Positive Renal Allograft Recipients: Long-term Results After 7 Years of a Randomized Clinical Trial. Transplantation. 2018 May;102(5):876-882. doi: 10.1097/TP.0000000000002024.
• Background Fehr T, Cippa PE, Mueller NJ. Cytomegalovirus post kidney transplantation: prophylaxis versus pre-emptive therapy? Transpl Int. 2015 Dec;28(12):1351-6. doi: 10.1111/tri.12629. Epub 2015 Jul 27.
• Background Villeneuve C, Rerolle JP, Couzi L, Westeel PF, Etienne I, Esposito L, Kamar N, Buchler M, Thierry A, Marquet P, Monchaud C. The Cost-effectiveness of Valganciclovir Prophylaxis Versus Preemptive Therapy in CMV R+ Kidney Transplant Recipients Over the First Year Posttransplantation. Transplant Direct. 2024 Jul 26;10(8):e1678. doi: 10.1097/TXD.0000000000001678. eCollection 2024 Aug.
• Background Reischig T, Vlas T, Kacer M, Pivovarcikova K, Lysak D, Nemcova J, Drenko P, Machova J, Bouda M, Sedivcova M, Kormunda S. A Randomized Trial of Valganciclovir Prophylaxis Versus Preemptive Therapy in Kidney Transplant Recipients. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2023 May 1;34(5):920-934. doi: 10.1681/ASN.0000000000000090. Epub 2023 Feb 2.

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