Virus-specific cytotoxic lymphocyte responses are predictive of the outcome of cytomegalovirus infection of renal transplant recipients

The results of our studies of renal transplant recipients are consistent with our previous studies of bone marrow transplant recipients in that the CMV-specific cytotoxic response is an important prognostic index of the outcome of CMV infection⁵. In view of these consistent results, future studies should be directed toward a precise understanding of the regulation of this immune response and an understanding of why some patients manifest an impaired ability to mount this response. Through such an understanding, immunopharmacotherpy could be undertaken so that nonresponding patients could be appropiately treated, thus permitting recovery from CMV infection.