Immunoglobulins, Vaccines or Interferon for Preventing Cytomegalovirus Disease in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients

A Cochrane review [Abstract] 1 included 37 studies with a total of 2185 subjects. There was no significant difference in the risk for CMV disease (16 trials, 770 patients: RR 0.80, 95% CI 0.61 to 1.05), CMV infection (14 trials, 775 patients: RR 0.94, 95% CI 0.80 to 1.10) or all-cause mortality (8 trials, 502 patients: RR 0.57, 95% CI 0.32 to 1.03) with IgG compared with placebo/no treatment. However IgG significantly reduced the risk of death from CMV disease (6 trials, 346 patients: RR 0.33, 95% CI 0.14 to 0.80). There was no difference in the risk for CMV disease (4 trials, 298 patients: RR 1.17, 95% CI 0.74 to 1.86), CMV infection (4 trials, 298 patients: RR 1.16, 95% CI 0.89 to 1.52) or all-cause mortality (2 trials, 217 patients: RR 0.92, 95% CI 0.37 to 2.29) between antiviral medication combined with IgG and antiviral medication alone. There was no significant difference in the risk of CMV disease with anti CMV vaccine or interferon compared with placebo or no treatment.

Comment: The quality of evidence is downgraded by study quality; inadequate allocation concealment and completeness of follow-up.

References

• Hodson EM, Jones CA, Strippoli GF, Webster AC, Craig JC. Immunoglobulins, vaccines or interferon for preventing cytomegalovirus disease in solid organ transplant recipients. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2007 Apr 18;(2):CD005129. [PubMed]