Cytomegalovirus in Children

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) was isolated from the urine and/or blood of eight of 21 (38%) pediatric renal allograft recipients. The recovery of CMV was associated with clinical symptomatology in four of the eight patients. Three had cryptogenic fever, and one had anicteric hepatitis. In addition to fever, one patient had evidence of "transplant lung." All of the eight patients had multiple positive urine cultures for as long as 14 months. However, all attempts at virus isolation during these periods were not successful. The fact that cytomegaloviruria was intermittent in all infected patients emphasizes the need for multiple, serial isolation attempts if the true incidence of CMV in renal allograft recipients is to be determined.