Risk Factors Associated with Post-Transplant Cytomegalovirus Infection in Renal Transplant Recipients in Lagos, Nigeria

Abstract

Abstract

Background: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is an important infection in renal transplant recipients and has significant impact on long-term recipients and graft survival.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the risk factors associated with post-transplant CMV infection in renal transplant recipients in Lagos, Nigeria.

Subjects and Methods: The study subjects were 40 renal transplant recipients aged 16 to 58 years and kidney graft donors to 22 of the transplant recipients. One hundred normal subjects from the general population and 36 patients with either stage 4 or 5 chronic kidney disease (CKD) who matched the transplant recipients for age and gender served as controls. Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) was employed to detect CMV IgM antibodies for the diagnosis of post-transplant CMV infection. Risk factors for CMV infection among the renal transplant recipients were assessed by means of a structured pre-tested self-administered questionnaire. Statistical analyses were done using EPI-INFO 2002. Unconditional logistic regression and multiple logistic regression analyses were done to identify risk factors associated with CMV infection in study subjects and controls.

Results: Exposure to multiple sexual partners, blood transfusion, haemodialysis and immunosuppressive drug therapy were identified as risk factors for CMV infection from unconditional logistic regression analysis. 

 

Exposure to multiple sexual partners was the only risk factor significantly associated with CMV infection after multiple logistic regression analysis (odds ratio= 3.05, 95% confidence interval = 1.02 - 9.12, p = 0.045).

Conclusion: Exposure to multiple sexual partners is an independent risk factor for post-transplant CMV infection in renal transplant recipients.

Keywords: Post-transplant Cytomegalovirus infection, risk factors, renal transplant recipients, Nigeria