Suppression of CMV infection with letermovir in a kidney transplant patient

Abstract

Infection with cytomegalovirus (CMV) with resistance to ganciclovir (GCV) is a therapeutic challenge in kidney transplant patients, because standard treatment options are nephrotoxic. We report the case of a kidney transplant recipient with GCV-resistant CMV disease, in whom letermovir, a novel inhibitor of CMV packaging, was administered off-label and prevented a relapse of disease once the CMV load was decreased by cidofovir. Furthermore, we observed significant drug interactions between letermovir and tacrolimus. LEARNING POINTS • Cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease with resistance to ganciclovir (GCV) is difficult to manage in transplant patients. • Letermovir may become a new option for treatment and prophylaxis of GCV-resistant CMV infection, but assessment of treatment response is difficult. • Letermovir may lead to drug interactions via CYP3A4.