Long-term Renal Allograft Dysfunction Associated with Cytomegalovirus Infection / 中国医师杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate whether cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is associated with chronic allograft nephropathy (CAN). Methods 131 patients underwent kidney transplantation from August 1, 1999 to November 30, 2000 were enrolled in this study. CMV-pp65 antigen load (the number of CMV-pp65-positive leukocytes) in peripheral blood within 6 months of posttransplant was detected, and TGF-? 1 mRNA expression in renal allograft biopsy was measured at the 7th month after transplant. The renal functions of the patients were followed up at least three years. Results The TGF-? 1 mRNA level in allografts of the patients with long-time and high-level CMV-pp65 antigen load was obviously higher that that of the patients without. 3 years after transplant, there were lower Ccr and more renal dysfunction in the patients with long-time and high-level CMV-pp65 antigen load than in the patients without, the difference of which was significant between the two groups of patients. Conclusion Serious CMV infection with long duration can damage the function of kidney graft, and is a risk factor for renal dysfunction.