A longer period of preventive treatment after transplant can help reduce the risk of infection by a virus called cytomegalovirus (CMV). CMV is a common virus and rarely causes problems in healthy individuals. In kidney transplant patients CMV infection can cause serious problems. Most CMV cases in transplant patients occur soon after the end of preventive treatment.
 
Dr. Fu Luan of the University of Michigan found patients who were treated with the antiviral for six months had an infection rate that was half that of those who received the treatment for only three months.  The study found the longer treatment is also cost-effective. It is cheaper in the long run to prevent infections that could be very costly.  

This article originally appeared in the November 2009 issue of Kidney Transplant Today.