Background: Graft survival in liver transplant recipients is significantly lower in
patients with a history of CMV infection compared to those without. In the absence of
any preventive therapy 75% of recipients develop CMV infection post liver transplant.
Objectives: This study detected the incidence of cytomegalovirus in liver transplant
patients and evaluated post-transplant risk factors for HCMV and its complications.
Methodology: A prospective study was conducted from the September 2018 till March
2020. Sixty subjects were involved; 30 patients were admitted for liver transplantation at
the Gastroenterology Surgery Center (GISC), Mansoura university, and 30 donors.
MELD score was calculated, blood samples were taken, CMV antibodies and CMV DNA
were detected. Post transplantation follow up for 6 months and complications were
reported. Results: HCMV viremia was detected in 46.6% recipients and in 10% donors
by PCR. One recipient was positive for IgM and the rest were IgG positive and all
donors were IgG positive. The most common reported complication after liver
transplantation was bacterial infections (46.4%). Conclusions: Half of patients
developed CMV infection after transplantation. The commonest risk factors for posttransplant CMV infection were seropositive donor or recipient >60 AU/mL, HCV
patients, body mass index >25 and DM. Patients with positive HCMV infection had
significantly higher MELD score than those reported negative HCMV
Prevalence, Incidence and Risk Factors for Donor-Specific Anti-HLA Antibodies in Maintenance Liver Transplant Patients