Incidence and risk factors of common viral infections among renal transplant recipients during the first year post-transplant in North-eastern Iran

Abstract

Despite major therapeutic advances, management of viral infections in renal transplant recipients is still a major challenge. Hence, it is urgently needed to establish protocols for appropriate control and the prevention of viral infection. We evaluated demographic/clinical characteristics, frequency, and risk factors of symptomatic viral infections in renal transplant recipients during the 1st year posttransplant, in northeastern Iran. We retrospectively reviewed medical files of 247 patients including 146 males and 101 females who had undergone renal transplantation at Montaserie organ transplantation hospital of Mashhad during 2012–2014. These patients were followed up for one year after transplantation for the detection of any symptomatic viral infection. Demographic and clinical characteristics of recipients were collected and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 18 software; P < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Data were presented using descriptive statistics. Furthermore, logistic regression analysis was used to determine risk factors for infection. The mean age of the patients was 34.94 ± 13.89 years. During the 1st year posttransplant, 68 episodes of viral infections were detected in 64 patients (25.9%). Cytomegalovirus (CMV, 21.9%), Varicella Zoster virus (2.8%), herpes simplex virus (2.0%), and human polyomavirus BK virus (0.8%) were the most common symptomatic viral infections found. Age of the patients was the only significant risk factor for viral infections (odds ratio = 1.066; 95% confidence interval: 1.002–1.134; P = 0.042). The incidence of symptomatic viral infections, particularly CMV disease, is high in our center. Hence, it is recommended to use appropriate prophylaxis and monitor the patients during the first six months post-transplant.