Dinh, Christopher A

ABSTRACT Background Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection remains one of the most prevalent and consequential post solid organ transplant (SOT) infections. Treatment is often challenging, especially when dealing with refractory and resistant CMV infections. Methods We performed a retrospective multicenter cohort study of SOT recipients with clinically significant CMV infection (csCMVi) during 2010–2016. The primary outcome was early refractory CMV infection and secondary outcomes were drug resistance, CMV recurrence, and mortality. Analysis was done with Kaplan‐Meier, univariable logistic regression analysis, and multivariable Cox regression. Results We included 145 SOT recipients with csCMVi, majority were liver transplant (49%). Most common induction was an anti‐IL‐2 antibody (43.9%). The majority ( n = 82; 56.5%) were CMV D+/R‐ mismatch and presented asymptomatic infection (50.3%). After the initial 3 weeks of antiviral therapy, 13 (8.9%) patients had probable refractory csCMVi; most of them (10 [76.9%]) were CMV D+/R‐ mismatch. Longer time after transplant had lower risk (OR 0.68; CI 0.48–0.95, p = 0.029) while lower absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) had a higher risk of early refractory csCMVi (OR 1.54; CI 1.01–2.44, p = 0.048). Drug‐resistant csCMVi occurred in 7 patients (4.8%); a high initial CMV DNA level was associated with resistant csCMVi (OR 2.00; CI 1.08–3.93, p = 0.031). 25 patients (17.2%) experienced recurrent csCMVi within 6 months. 30 patients (20.7%) died; refractory, resistant or recurrent CMV infections were not associated with mortality. Conclusion Refractory csCMVi is associated with a low ALC and an earlier onset after transplant. Resistant csCMVi is associated with high initial CMV DNA levels. Recurrence of csCMVi is common and potentially associated with low ALC at the end of antiviral treatment.

We highlight the complex management considerations in a patient with cerebral amyloid angiopathy who developed venous thromboembolism, explicitly navigating the balance between risks of thromboembolism and bleeding with anticoagulation therapy. This case highlights a man in his 70s who presented to the emergency department with an acute right frontal intracerebral haemorrhage secondary to cerebral amyloid angiopathy with an acute segmental pulmonary embolism managed with an inferior vena cava (IVC) filter. During hospitalisation, the patient developed a large expansile thrombus extending inferior from the IVC filter to the right popliteal vein. This necessitated the initiation of anticoagulation therapy, beginning with unfractionated heparin, transitioning to enoxaparin and ultimately to apixaban. He was treated with 3 months of anticoagulation with no haemorrhagic complications. The patient’s successful outcome underscored the potential for safe and effective anticoagulation management in this complex clinical scenario.