Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of prophylactic cytomegalovirus hyperimmune globulin treatment in solid organ transplant recipients were eligible for inclusion. Eligible trials had to report any of the following outcomes: death, cytomegalovirus-related death, cytomegalovirus infection, cytomegalovirus disease, and episodes of acute rejection. Trials including bone marrow transplant recipients were excluded.
Participants in included trials received transplants of either a lung, liver, heart or kidney., and received cytomegalovirus hyperimmune globulin at doses ranging from 100-500mg/kg (sometimes with acyclovir) for between 10 weeks and 6 months after transplantation; doses often varied with time. Over half the trials included only kidney transplant recipients. Control groups received a placebo, no cytomegalovirus hyperimmune globulin treatment, or acyclovir. Cytomegalovirus disease, cytomegalovirus infection, and cytomegalovirus-associated death were the most commonly reported outcomes. Median follow-up time was 12 months (range from three to 22 months).
The authors did not state how the papers were selected for the review, or how many reviewers performed the selection.