Lack of Cytomegalovirus Transmission after Pancreatic Islet Transplantation

In spite of antiviral prophylaxis, the transmission rate of cytomegalovirus (CMV) after solid organ transplantation remains high. In contrast, CMV transmission has never been reported following pancreatic islet transplantation (PIT). Eleven (seven CMV seronegative, four CMV seropositive) recipients underwent a total of 26 PITs. Following PIT recipients were monitored clinically and tested monthly for CMV antigenemia. Valganciclovir was given to all patients for 100 days after each PIT. Follow-up ranged from 6 to 24 months (median 14.5 months). Pancreatic islet grafts were procured from 18 CMV seropositive and 8 seronegative donors (69% and 31% of donors, respectively). In total there were 6 R+D+, 3 R+D-, 12 R-D+, and 5 R-D-PITs. No patient developed CMV antigenemia or symptoms consistent with CMV infection at any time following PIT. Routine posttransplant testing of PIT recipients demonstrated that neither CMV transmission nor CMV infection occurred after PIT.