Introduction: cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is a common problem among kidney transplant patients. It can affect patient morbidity and graft survival. It is also associated with acute and chronic graft rejection.
Aim of the study: The aim of this work is to show the prevalence and natural course post-kidney transplantation of CMV infection and the effect of CMV on patient morbidity and mortality.
Methods: This cohort study was performed at Children Hospital, Cairo University during the period from May 2016 to January 2018, including thirty pediatric renal transplanted patients diagnosed as end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and had kidney transplantation. Patients were divided into two groups; patients' group with CMV infection and control group without CMV infection. CMV infection was diagnosed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction.
Results: Patients were divided according to PCR as CMV positive group [8 patients (26.7%)] and negative group [22 patients (73.3%)]. There was a statistically significant difference between 2 studied groups as regard chest infection (p= 0.019), height (p= 0.003) and hemodialysis duration (p= 0.022) in the CMV positive patients. Urinary tract infection was the major co-morbidity in the 2 groups (59.1% in the negative patients and 75% in the positive patients), followed by hypertension (18.2% in the negative patients and 37.5% in the positive group). No statistically significant difference in the rejection episodes in both groups.
Conclusion: CMV disease can increase the risk of infections like chest infection and UTI and a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases as hypertension