Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39453573›Full record

ArticleClinical and experimental nephrology2025

Efficacy of valganciclovir prophylaxis in kidney transplant recipients following low-dose rituximab induction therapy: a multicenter retrospective study.

Tomohiro Takehara, Hayato Nishida, Kazunobu Ichikawa, Takaaki Nawano, Satoshi Takai, Hiroki Fukuhara, Tomohiko Matsuura, Shinya Maita, Mitsuru Saito, Reiichi Murakami and 7 more

Abstract readMulticenter Study
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Clinical and experimental nephrology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

17 authors.

Tomohiro TakeharaDepartment of Cardiology, Pulmonology, and Nephrology, Faculty of Medicine, Yamagata University, Yamagata, Japan.
Hayato NishidaDepartment of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, Yamagata University, 2-2-2 Iida-Nishi, Yamagata, 990-9585, Japan. hnishida331@yahoo.co.jp.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8045-551X
Kazunobu IchikawaDepartment of Cardiology, Pulmonology, and Nephrology, Faculty of Medicine, Yamagata University, Yamagata, Japan.
Takaaki NawanoDepartment of Cardiology, Pulmonology, and Nephrology, Faculty of Medicine, Yamagata University, Yamagata, Japan.
Satoshi TakaiDepartment of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, Yamagata University, 2-2-2 Iida-Nishi, Yamagata, 990-9585, Japan.
Hiroki FukuharaDepartment of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, Yamagata University, 2-2-2 Iida-Nishi, Yamagata, 990-9585, Japan.
Tomohiko MatsuuraDepartment of Urology, Iwate Medical University, Morioka, Iwate, Japan.
Shinya MaitaDepartment of Urology, Iwate Prefectural Isawa Hospital, Oshu, Iwate, Japan.
Mitsuru SaitoDepartment of Urology, Akita University School of Medicine, Akita, Japan.
Reiichi MurakamiDepartment of Cardiology and Nephrology, Hirosaki University School of Medicine, Hirosaki, Aomori, Japan.
Shingo HatakeyamaDepartment of Urology, Hirosaki University School of Medicine, Hirosaki, Aomori, Japan.
Wataru ObaraDepartment of Urology, Iwate Medical University, Morioka, Iwate, Japan.
Hisao SaitohDepartment of Urology, Oyokyo Kidney Research Institute, Hirosaki, Aomori, Japan.
Chikara OhyamaDepartment of Urology, Hirosaki University School of Medicine, Hirosaki, Aomori, Japan.
Tomonori HabuchiDepartment of Urology, Akita University School of Medicine, Akita, Japan.
Masafumi WatanabeDepartment of Cardiology, Pulmonology, and Nephrology, Faculty of Medicine, Yamagata University, Yamagata, Japan.
Norihiko TsuchiyaDepartment of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, Yamagata University, 2-2-2 Iida-Nishi, Yamagata, 990-9585, Japan.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundRituximab (RIT) induction therapy is widely used for desensitization against ABO-incompatible living-donor kidney transplants (KT). However, the efficacy of valganciclovir (VGCV) prophylaxis against cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease and infection in KT recipients (KTRs) following RIT induction remains unclear.

methodsThe current multicenter retrospective study included 213 KTRs who received low-dose RIT induction between 1998 and 2021, across 6 facilities included in the Michinoku Renal Transplant Network (MRTN). VGCV dosage varied from 450 mg/day (twice weekly) to 900 mg/day (daily), with treatment durations of 3-12 months. The primary and secondary endpoints were the incidence of CMV disease and infection, respectively.

resultsThe incidence of CMV disease was significantly higher in the VGCV group (23.5%; 16 patients) than in the non-VGCV group (5.5%; 8 patients) (p < 0.01). The incidence of CMV infection was 54.5% (79 patients) in the non-VGCV group and 48.5% (33 patients) in the VGCV group, with no significant difference (p = 0.42). In the subgroup of CMV-seronegative KTRs receiving allografts from CMV-seropositive donors (CMV IgG (D + /R-)), 18 out of 24 KTRs received VGCV prophylaxis, of whom 10 (55.6%) developed CMV disease. Within this subgroup, only 4 KTRs received VGCV with the standard protocol (900 mg daily for 6 months), and none developed CMV disease.

conclusionInsufficient VGCV prophylaxis does not reduce the incidence of CMV disease in KTRs following low-dose RIT induction. Despite concerns about leukopenia due to RIT and VGCV, in KTRs with CMV IgG (D + /R-) serostatus, VGCV prophylaxis with a standard protocol may be advisable.

Indexed as

Antiviral AgentsCytomegalovirus InfectionsImmunosuppressive AgentsKidney TransplantationRituximabValganciclovirAdultAgedFemaleHumansIncidenceMaleMiddle AgedRetrospective StudiesTreatment OutcomeAntiviral AgentsImmunosuppressive AgentsRituximabValganciclovirCytomegalovirusKidney transplantationRituximabValganciclovir prophylaxis

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.