Cytomegalovirus disease as a risk factor for graft loss and death after orthotopic liver transplantation

To determine whether cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease is an independent risk factor for graft loss and death after orthotopic liver transplantation, we performed a 3-year follow-up study of 143 consecutive liver transplant recipients and six patients who underwent retransplantation. Thirty-seven patients (25%) had had CMV disease and were alive after treatment. Fifty-two deaths and eight graft losses occurred. The cumulative incidence of graft failure at 1 and 3 years of follow-up were 40% and 63%, respectively, for patients with CMV disease, compared with 22% and 33%, respectively, for those without CMV disease (P < .05, logrank test). Cumulative probabilities of survival for patients with and without CMV disease were 64% and 82%, respectively, at 1 year and 46% and 69%, respectively, after 3 years (P < .05, logrank test). Multivariate analysis with use of a time-dependent Cox model showed that previous CMV disease was an independent risk factor for graft loss at 1 and 3 years of follow-up (P = .04 and P = .007) and for patient survival (P = .04 and P = .01). Our results indicate that CMV disease is a significant independent risk factor for graft loss and patient survival after liver transplantation.