What is CMV?
And what does it mean for me or my loved one after a transplant?
The basics:
CMV is one of the most common post-transplant infections. Most people have been exposed to it before, but the immune system keeps it in check. When the immune system is weakened, it may not be strong enough to hold back CMV. Luckily, there are treatments that can help fight CMV.
As someone who had a transplant, the medicines you may have been given could weaken your immune system and leave you vulnerable to CMV infection and disease.
If you have active CMV, your doctor might give you antiviral medicines to manage it. Your doctor will keep track of your progress by testing the level of virus in your blood as needed.
What are Refractory CMV
and Resistant CMV?
Refractory CMV is diagnosed when a lab test shows the levels of CMV virus in the blood has not adequately decreased after 2 weeks of treatment.
In addition, when a lab test shows a type of CMV with a gene mutation known to prevent the medication from working, that is considered resistant CMV.
If you have refractory or resistant CMV, your transplant team may then give you a different antiviral medicine in order to help fight the infection.
CMV and my transplant
choose yours
Remember: you might have questions or concerns during this process.
If you do, be sure to always talk to your transplant team.
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