Efficacy and Safety of a Weight-based Dosing Regimen of Valganciclovir for Cytomegalovirus Prophylaxis in Pediatric Solid-organ Transplant Recipients

Adi Pappo, Orit Peled, Matitiahu Berkovitch, Efraim Bilavsky, Eran Rom, Jacob Amir, Irit Krause, Havatzelet Yarden-Bilavsky, Oded Scheuerman, Liat Ashkenazi-Hoffnung*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background. Valganciclovir has been widely used for cytomegalovirus (CMV) prophylaxis in solid-organ transplant recipients. However, the optimal dosing protocol and target exposure in children are still unclear. Specific data as to the efficacy and safety of low-dose/low-exposure regimens are lacking and urgently needed. Methods. During 2010 to 2015, the clinical efficacy and safety of a weight-based regimen of valganciclovir of 17 mg/kg/day, with a stratified dose reduction for impaired creatinine clearance, given as a CMV prophylaxis for 3 to 6 months, was retrospectively evaluated among pediatric kidney and liver transplant recipients, 12 months posttransplantation. Incidence of CMV infection was assessed by periodic measurements of viral load; adverse events were evaluated. Results. Eighty-Three children who had undergone 86 transplantations and were treated with 17 mg/kg of valganciclovir were included. Median age was 9.77 years (range, 0.6 to 18.9). Twelve (14%) developed CMV infection: 1 during prophylaxis and 11 during follow-up. These events comprised 6 cases of asymptomatic viremia and 6 cases of a clinically significant disease without occurrences of tissue-invasive disease. Treatment-related adverse effects occurred in 7 patients (8%), mostly hematological, resulting in premature drug cessation. Conclusions. Our results support the use of 17 mg/kg of valganciclovir for CMV prophylaxis in liver and kidney transplanted children as it showed satisfactory long-Term efficacy and a good safety profile.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1730-1735
Number of pages6
JournalTransplantation
Volume103
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Aug 2019

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