CMV is a common virus that belongs to the same family of viruses as cold sores and chicken pox. Once infected, a person stays infected for life. Most of the time, the virus is inactive (“sleeping”) and does not cause problems. About 1 in 2 adults have been infected with CMV. We check this before your transplant.
CMV can be passed to you through a transplanted organ if the donor has had CMV in the past.
If you get an organ from a CMV positive donor and you have never had this infection before (called a CMV mismatched transplant), there is a high chance you will become infected with CMV. To reduce the risk of illness, you will need regular blood tests and possibly medication to prevent CMV infection.
If you were infected with CMV in the past, the virus can reactivate (“wake up”) after transplant.
In a person with a transplant, CMV may cause mild to severe flu like illness. It can also affect the intestines, eyes, or transplanted organ. Symptoms may include:
- Tiredness
- Diarrhea or abdominal pain
- Fever
- Muscle aches
- Blurry vision or other visual changes
Contact your transplant team if you develop new or concerning symptoms.
