Clinical Practice
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World J Hepatol. Dec 27, 2013; 5(12): 692-695
Published online Dec 27, 2013. doi: 10.4254/wjh.v5.i12.692
Acute cytomegalovirus infection in liver transplant recipients: An independent risk for venous thromboembolism
Raja GR Edula, Kamran Qureshi, Hicham Khallafi
Raja GR Edula, Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Rutgers New Jersey School of Medicine, Newark, NJ 07103, United States
Raja GR Edula, Kamran Qureshi, Hicham Khallafi, Department of Hepatology, Florida Hospital Transplant Center, Orlando, FL 32803, United States
Author contributions: Edula RGR designed, wrote the manuscript and collected evidence in support of the case; Qureshi K and Khallafi H helped in editing the manuscript and provided valuable input in completing the case report and discussion.
Correspondence to: Raja GR Edula, MD, MRCP, Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Rutgers New Jersey School of Medicine, 185 S Orange Avenue, MSB H-528, Newark, NJ 07103, United States. rre17@njms.rutgers.edu
Telephone: +1-973-9725252 Fax: +1-973-9723144
Received: September 5, 2013
Revised: October 29, 2013
Accepted: December 9, 2013
Published online: December 27, 2013
Processing time: 128 Days and 17.9 Hours
Core Tip

Core tip: Liver transplant recipients are a special group of individuals whose clinical needs are complex due to the use of immunosuppressive agents. They are prone to several opportunistic infections which are not commonly encountered in regular clinical practice. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is a well-recognized complication in the post-transplant setting which can affect the graft function and increase morbidity and mortality. Venous thromboembolism occurring in the setting of acute CMV infection in this group of patients is an important complication and we attempt to delineate the pathophysiology, discuss evidence linking both the conditions and provide practical points in the management of these complex individuals.