Cytomegalovirus infections after treatment with daclizumab, an anti IL-2 receptor antibody, for prevention of renal allograft rejection

Daclizumab is a newly developed humanized anti-IL-2 receptor monoclonal ant ibody. We describe the effect of adding daclizumab to conventional dual or triple cyclosporine A immunosuppressive therapy on the incidence and nature of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections in patients receiving a first cadaveri c renal graft. In the triple therapy study there was no evidence of any dif ference in CMV rate or course of disease between the two treatment arms, al though in the dual therapy study a decrease in the incidence of CMV infecti on was observed in the patients treated with daclizumab. The onset of CMV d isease was markedly delayed in the daclizumab groups in both studies. Dacli zumab can effectively reduce the risk of acute rejection without causing a concomitant increase in opportunistic infections, and by decreasing the nee d for antirejection therapy may also have a beneficial effect on CMV infect ion rates.