ADENOVIRUS INFECTION IN ADULT ORTHOTOPIC LIVER-TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS - INCIDENCE AND CLINICAL-SIGNIFICANCE

Adenovirus infection occurs in 10% of pediatric orthotopic liver trans plant recipients; however, no cases have been described in adult liver transplant recipients, A retrospective review of 191 adults who under went liver transplantation from January 1988 through October 1995 was done to describe the incidence and clinical significance of adenovirus infection in this population, There were 11 (5.8%) patients with 16 c ultures positive for adenovirus. Sites of isolation were urine (9), bl ood (2), liver biopsy (2), colonic biopsy (1), lung biopsy (1), and st ool (1). Adenovirus infection was classified as either disease or asym ptomatic infection. There were 7 cases of adenovirus disease (2 defini te, 1 probable, and 4 possible), Disease was disseminated in 3 patient s: All had pneumonia and 2 died, Of the 3 patients with pneumonia, 2 h ad evidence of multiorgan involvement. Adenovirus disease occurs in ad ult orthotopic liver transplant recipients and may be associated with significant morbidity and occasional mortality.