Evaluation of the Validity of Preemptive Therapy against Cytomegalovirus Disease Based on Antigenemia Assay with a Cutoff of 20 Positive Cells per Two Slides

Abstract

The increased threshold up to 20 positive cells for starting preemptive therapy was not associated with a significant increase in CMV disease, but the total dose of GCV was not reduced and there was one early CMV disease in the 20A group. We should explore how to identify patients who are at high risk for increased antigenemia among patients with low-level antigenemia, but at least, preemptive therapy should not be withheld in patients who are already receiving systemic steroid.