¹Indiana University Medical Center, Department of Surgery, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA

Correspondence: MD Pescovitz, Indiana University Medical Center, Department of Surgery, MS-2031, 635 Barnhill Drive, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202, USA. E-mail: mpescov@iupui.edu

Abstract

Both prophylaxis and preemptive therapy are used to prevent the development of cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease after transplantation. Preemptive therapy exposes the least number of patients to costly and potentially toxic drugs. Prophylaxis is less labor intensive and requires less expensive monitoring. While the overall cost of the two modalities is similar, current literature suggests that prophylaxis has an advantage in avoiding secondary effects of CMV. Randomized comparative trials are imperative.