Between November 1987 and September 1989, 419 cadaveric renal transplants were performed at our university. Of the patients 36 (8.6%) had invasive cytomegalovirus infection documented by gastric or duodenal mucosal biopsy in 23 (64%), bronchoalveolar lavage in 12 (33%), allograft biopsy or nephrectomy specimen in 5 (14%) and/or liver biopsy in 1 (3%). Cytomegalovirus severity was defined as mild in 27 patients, moderate in 6 and severe in 3. Ganciclovir [9-(1,3-dihydroxy-2-propoxymethyl)-guanine] was begun once the diagnosis was confirmed by histology or culture at a median of 56 days from transplantation (range 28 to 133 days). Duration of ganciclovir therapy was a minimum of 7 days or until fever was absent for 5 consecutive days (mean 12.2 +/- 3.5 days, range 4 to 21). Ganciclovir was well tolerated and side effects were limited to de novo neutropenia (7 patients), thrombocytopenia (2) and rash (1). Initial clinical improvement was observed in all patients. Two patients had recurrent cytomegalovirus infections that responded to a second course of ganciclovir. The 1-year actuarial patient survival was 100%. At a mean followup of 12.7 +/- 6.2 months 19 patients retained allograft function with a mean serum creatinine of 2.5 mg./dl. (range 1.2 to 4.6). Ganciclovir appears to be a safe and effective drug for the treatment of tissue invasive cytomegalovirus infection in cadaver renal transplant recipients. Prompt institution of this drug at diagnosis of invasive cytomegalovirus may lower the mortality rate formerly associated with this disease
