[Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection: a frequent and life-threatening complication in heart transplant patients].

We investigated the clinical relevance of cytomegalovirus infection in our heart transplant recipients (n = 48). There was a high incidence of CMV-infection in patients where IgG positive donor versus IgG negative recipient was present. A total of 5/8 patients (= 62.5%) showed severe clinical CMV-infection with pneumonitis, colitis or tonsillitis besides general malaise, requiring long hospital treatment (2 to 24 weeks). CMV-infection is a frequent and threatening complication in patients after heart transplant (HTPL). We discuss the various managements in diagnosis, prophylaxis and treatment.