Cytomegalovirus is a herpes virus that infects most of the general population, but rarely causes serious illness in healthy individuals. Subjects who are immunocompromised, however, are at risk for significant infection or re-infection from CMV. Once present, the virus normally remains dormant. CMV may be reactivated in recipients when immunosuppressed, even those with antibodies. The majority of donors and recipients have anti-CMV antibodies in the plasma and they increase with age. CMV infection can be transmitted from donor to recipient via the transplanted organ or blood transfusion if the recipient does not have anti-CMV antibodies. Immunosuppressive therapy further increases the risk for infection in the recipient who is CMV negative which can become disseminated and threaten the transplanted kidney and/or the recipient’s life.
Vella, J., Bennett, W.M., & Brennan, D.C. (2015). Cytomegaolvirus infection in renal transplant recipients. UpToDate. Retrieved from: http://www.uptodate.com/contents/cytomegalovirus-infection-in-renal-transplant-recipients