Information on CMV after Organ Transplant

A Starting Point

You will likely need lifelong drugs to suppress the immune system so it doesn't attack or reject the transplant. This can leave you at risk of infections like cytomegalovirus (CMV).

A Vulnerable System

As someone who had a transplant, the medicines you may have been given could weaken your immune system and leave you vulnerable to CMV infection and disease.

What You Can Do

In working through your experience and feelings, it’s helpful sometimes to know more about CMV and what to expect based on where you are in your specific transplant journey.

Feeling stressed or overloaded is completely normal. Stay in close contact with your transplant team and let them know how you're feeling.

The CMV Basics

Many people experience an infection with CMV after transplant. If you have had an organ transplant, here is some basic information about CMV that may be helpful.

  • CMV is a common virus and is related to those that cause mononucleosis (also known as “mono”) and chicken pox.
  • Most people don’t even realize they have the virus in their body because it rarely causes problems.
  • A healthy immune system keeps it in check.
  • With a healthy immune system, a CMV infection usually goes away by itself without causing much notice.
  • Once you’ve been infected with CMV, however, you always have the virus in your body.
  • It stays there for life, usually remaining quiet or inactive, without causing any problems.
  • If your immune system becomes weakened or compromised at some point, however, CMV may reappear and become active again (reactivate).
  • This can occur in anyone, regardless of whether they have had a transplant.

If CMV does reactivate, you may experience a flu-like illness with swollen lymph nodes, muscle aches or weakness, fatigue, and fever.

Be sure to speak with your healthcare team about how you’re feeling and if you have any of these or other symptoms.

 

Click the section below based on where you are in your transplant journey to learn more about CMV.

Before Transplant

You and your organ donor will be tested for CMV. Knowing whether CMV is present in either you or the organ will help your transplant team make a plan to manage your risk of reactivation or new CMV infection.

Knowing whether CMV is present in either you or the organ will help your healthcare team make a plan to manage your risk of CMV infection.

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Knowing whether CMV is present in either you or the organ will help your healthcare team make a plan to manage your risk of CMV infection.

IMMEDIATELY AFTER TRANSPLANT

You may receive preventive treatment or prophylaxis. You may need to stay on prophylaxis for several months. Your transplant team will balance the risk of infection with the need for immune suppression to protect your new organ(s).

After your transplant, you will probably be watched closely for any signs of active CMV infection or increasing virus levels in your blood.

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After your transplant, you will probably be watched closely for any signs of active CMV infection or increasing virus levels in your blood.

Post-Transplant and Beyond

In the first few months after transplant, you may be tested regularly and given preemptive treatment if CMV levels start to increase (even if you don't feel symptoms).

Recovering from an organ transplant takes time and lots of energy, and you’ll be adjusting for a while.

An active CMV infection or other medical problem resulting from the transplant makes things even more challenging.

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Recovering from an organ transplant takes time and lots of energy, and you’ll be adjusting for a while.

An active CMV infection or other medical problem resulting from the transplant makes things even more challenging.

 

Throughout Your Recovery

Throughout your recovery, be sure to stay in frequent and open communication with your healthcare team, and be persistent if you feel you’re not being understood or not getting your questions answered.

Download the Talking with Your Transplant Team tool for some examples of questions you might consider asking and tips for managing discussions with your team.