Cytomegalovirus-associated venous thromboembolism in renal transplant recipients: a report of 7 cases.

Renal-transplant recipients have a higher prevalence of thromboembolic events compared with the general population. This elevated risk has been attributed to immunosuppressive drugs as well as metabolic and immunologic factors. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection, a frequent complication of transplantation, is known to modify endothelial phenotype from anticoagulant into procoagulant. There are few reports addressing the association of venous thromboembolism with CMV infection in immunocompetent patients. Some authors have also reported cases of arterial thrombosis in transplant recipients presenting CMV infection. However, the association of venous thromboembolic events with CMV infection has not yet been discussed in these patients. We present seven cases of simultaneous acute CMV infection and venous thromboembolism in renal-transplant recipients and suggest a potential causative effect.