[Strategies for the diagnosis and monitoring of cytomegalovirus in transplant patients].

Source: PubMed, NCBI / U.S. National Library of Medicine

CMV is one of the main complications associated with transplantation, whether of solid organs or hematopoietic stem cells, and is related to an increase in post-transplant morbidity and mortality. Due to its significant impact, prevention is recommended, either through prophylaxis or other preventive therapies. The latter require viral monitoring of the patient, as viremia serves as a predictor of of the disease, allowing for an early detection and timely preventive treatment. The gold standard for viral monitoring is the quantitative determination of nucleic acids. Laboratories often face practical challenges regarding the type of sample to be used, its transport and storage conditions, the appropriate methods of nucleic acid extraction and quantification, the frequency of monitoring and establishment of cut-off points to ensure the accuracy and reproducibility of CMV viral load test results. The Argentine Society of Virology has formed a working group specifically dedicated to addressing these difficulties. This document aims to provide recommendations on the aforementioned points based on the available scientific evidence and the expertise of the working group.