Cytomegalovirus infection management in solid organ transplant recipients across European centers in the time of molecular diagnostics: An ESGICH survey

Background Scant information is available about how transplant centers are managing their use of quantitative molecular testing (QNAT) assays for active cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection monitoring in solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients. The current study was aimed at gathering information on current practices in the management of CMV infection across European centers in the era of molecular testing assays. Methods A questionnaire-based cross-sectional survey study was conducted by the European Study Group of Infections in Immunocompromised Hosts (ESGICH) of the Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID). The invitation and a weekly reminder with a personal link to …

Haemophagocytic syndrome in a liver transplant patient during treatment with Telaprevir.

Haemophagocytic syndrome (HS) is a rare disease that is often fatal despite treatment. HS is characterized by fevers, lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly, cytopenias and hyperferritinaemia due to deregulated activation and proliferation of macrophages, leading to uncontrolled phagocytosis of platelets, erythrocytes, lymphocytes, and their hematopoietic precursors throughout the reticuloendothelial system. Mycobacterium tuberculosis-associated HS is a rare and underdiagnosed association with only 39 cases reported. We describe a case of HS associated with disseminated Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the setting of post-liver transplantation anti-hepatitis C therapy with pegylated interferon (p…

Peritransplant Antiviral Treatment of Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Hepatitis C Virus–Coinfected Patients

Antibody response to human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) glycoprotein B (gB) in AIDS patients with HCMV end-organ disease

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV)-specific antibody responses in HIV-1 infected individuals either with or without HCMV end-organ disease were examined to determine the whether development of HCMV disease was associated with a particular deficit in the antibody response. Antiwhole HCMV, anti-glycoprotein B (gB), and neutralizing antibody levels were higher in HIV-1 infected individuals than in healthy immunocompetent subjects, particularly in patients with AIDS either with or without HCMV-associated disease. Irrespective of location and spread of HCMV disease, patients who had received anti-HCMV therapy prior to sampling exhibited significantly higher anti-gB and neutralizing antibody titers tha…

Cardiovascular risk and liver transplantation in HIV patients. Are HIV infected liver transplant recipients at higher risk?

Abstract Background Cardiovascular (CV) diseases are currently one of the main causes of morbimortality in HIV-infected patients. Similarly, LT recipients have increased prevalence of CV risk factors. Our aim was to assess whether HIV infected LT patients have an increased prevalence of CV risk factors and events (CVE) as compared to non-HIV LT patients. Methods We included LT recipients from 2004 to 2016 from a single center. HIV-infected patients were matched to 2 non-HIV controls each by sex, liver disease etiology, and date of LT. Results A total of 138 LT recipients were included (46 HIV-infected and 92 HIV-uninfected). HCV was the main etiology (85% of HIV-infected and 83% of HIV-unin…