Association Between Delayed Graft Function and Cytomegalovirus Infection after Renal Transplant

Background : Delayed graft function (DGF) increases the renal allograft failure risk. The objective of this study was to estimate the incidence of CMV infection and to analyze whether DGF is associated with an increased risk of CMV infection. Methods : This single center, retrospective, cohort study of deceased donor renal transplant recipients assessed CMV outcomes in patients experiencing DGF versus those without DGF. Univariate and multivariate hazard ratios were calculated with a Cox model. Results : Data from 124 recipients were evaluated (Mean age 44.72±9.97 years, 89 males). Cytomegaloviruria during 1 year after transplantation was diagnosed in 16 patients (12.9%). Patients with DGF were at a greater risk of cytomegaloviruria than patients without DGF (P=0.026). Furthermore, the lymphocyte proportion and CD4+ T cells absolute counts of the DGF group were lower than the without DGF group (p= 0.031 and p=0.012). Conclusion : Our data support the hypothesis that renal transplant recipients with DGF are at increased risk of developing cytomegaloviruria. Prospective studies evaluating to monitor CMV viral loads and CD4+ T lymphocyte numbers in patients with DGF are needed. Trial registration： Clinical Research and Application Ethics Committee of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University:2024-hg-ks-46.Registered 22 October 2024.