Valganciclovir Prophylaxis Versus Preemptive Therapy for Cytomegalovirus in Living Donor Kidney Transplant Recipients ((PREVAIL-KT))

February 17, 2026 updated by: University of Guadalajara

Incidence of Cytomegalovirus Infection or Disease Using Valganciclovir Prophylaxis Versus Preemptive Therapy in Intermediate-Risk (R+) Living Donor Kidney Transplant Recipients Receiving Basiliximab-Based Immunosuppression: An Open-Label Clinical Trial (PREVAIL-KT)

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection remains one of the most frequent infectious complications after kidney transplantation. In intermediate-risk recipients (seropositive, R+ recipient) of living donor kidney transplants, optimal prevention strategies remain debated, particularly in the setting of basiliximab-based induction therapy.

This open-label clinical trial aims to compare the incidence of CMV infection or disease in intermediate-risk (R+) living donor kidney transplant recipients receiving valganciclovir prophylaxis versus a preemptive therapy strategy. All patients receive basiliximab-based immunosuppression as part of standard clinical practice.

Participants were enrolled between March 1, 2024 and July 31, 2025. Patients are followed for 12 months post-transplantation to assess the primary outcome of CMV infection or disease. Secondary outcomes include graft function, acute rejection episodes, and other infectious complications.

The results of this study may help define the optimal CMV prevention strategy in intermediate-risk living donor kidney transplant recipients under basiliximab-based immunosuppression.

Study Overview

Status

Active, not recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection remains one of the most frequent infectious complications after kidney transplantation and is associated with increased morbidity, acute rejection, and impaired graft survival. Recipients at intermediate CMV risk (seropositive recipients, R+) represent a large proportion of living-donor kidney transplant patients; however, the optimal prevention strategy in this population remains controversial.

Two main preventive approaches are currently used: universal antiviral prophylaxis and a preemptive therapy strategy based on viral load monitoring. While both strategies are accepted in clinical practice, comparative evidence in intermediate-risk living donor recipients receiving basiliximab induction therapy is limited, particularly in single-center settings in Mexico.

This single-center, open-label randomized controlled trial was conducted at the Transplant Division of UMAE Hospital de Especialidades, Centro Médico Nacional de Occidente (IMSS), Mexico. Adult recipients undergoing first living-donor kidney transplantation at intermediate CMV risk and receiving basiliximab induction were randomized to either a universal prophylaxis strategy with valganciclovir or a preemptive monitoring-based approach. All participants received standard maintenance immunosuppression and were followed for 12 months after transplantation.

The study aims to compare the effectiveness of these two prevention strategies in reducing CMV infection and disease, as well as evaluating associated hematologic adverse events and acute rejection episodes. The findings are expected to contribute evidence to guide CMV prevention strategies in intermediate-risk kidney transplant recipients in similar healthcare settings.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

68

Phase

  • Phase 4

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Mexico
    • Jalisco
      • Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, 44280
        • Universidad de Guadalajara

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. -Age ≥18 years.
  2. -First living-donor kidney transplant.
  3. -Intermediate CMV risk (recipient seropositive [R+], donor positive or negative [D+/D-]).

4-Induction immunosuppression with basiliximab. 5.-Ability to provide written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. -Multi-organ transplant recipients (e.g., pancreas-kidney, liver-kidney).
  2. -Deceased donor transplant recipients.
  3. -Primary non-function of the graft.
  4. -Hyperacute rejection.
  5. -Death within the first month post-transplant.
  6. -Early graft loss due to surgical complications.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Prevention
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Valganciclovir Prophylaxis
Participants receive Valganciclovir 900 mg orally once daily for 3 months, starting on day 7 post-transplant. Standard maintenance immunosuppression with tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil, and prednisone is administered. Participants are followed for 12 months to assess CMV infection, CMV disease, hematologic adverse events, and acute rejection episodes
Drug: Valganciclovir Prophylaxis
Participants receive Valganciclovir 900 mg orally once daily for 3 months, starting on day 7 post-transplant. Standard maintenance immunosuppression with tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil, and prednisone is administered. Participants are followed for 12 months to assess CMV infection, CMV disease, hematologic adverse events, and acute rejection episodes
Active Comparator: Preemptive Therapy (CMV PCR Monitoring)
Participants undergo quantitative CMV PCR monitoring every 15 days for the first 3 months and monthly until month 12. Antiviral therapy with Valganciclovir is initiated if viral load ≥1,000 copies/mL. Standard maintenance immunosuppression with tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil, and prednisone is administered. Participants are followed for 12 months to assess CMV infection, CMV disease, hematologic adverse events, and acute rejection episodes.
Diagnostic test: Preemptive Therapy (CMV PCR Monitoring)
Participants undergo quantitative CMV PCR monitoring every 15 days for the first 3 months and monthly until month 12. Antiviral therapy with Valganciclovir is initiated if viral load ≥1,000 copies/mL. Standard maintenance immunosuppression with tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil, and prednisone is administered. Participants are followed for 12 months to assess CMV infection, CMV disease, hematologic adverse events, and acute rejection episodes.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Incidence of CMV infection and/or CMV disease
Time Frame: Within 12 months post-transplant
CMV infection is defined as detectable CMV DNAemia by quantitative PCR. CMV disease is defined as CMV DNAemia plus compatible clinical syndrome (e.g., fever, malaise, cytopenias) and/or organ involvement (e.g., pneumonitis, colitis, pancreatitis)
Within 12 months post-transplant

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

University of Guadalajara

Collaborators

Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Jorge Andrade-Sierra, PhD, University of Guadalajara

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Helpful Links

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

March 1, 2024

Primary Completion (Estimated)

July 31, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

July 31, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

February 17, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 17, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

February 24, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

February 24, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 17, 2026

Last Verified

February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • R-2024-1301-202

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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