Tanriverdi, Elif SerenYakupogullari, YusufBayindir, YasarAkbulut, SamiToplu, Sibel AltunisikBag, Harika Gozde GozukaraIsik, Burak2026-04-042026-04-0420250041-13451873-2623https://doi.org/10.1016/j.transproceed.2025.07.006https://hdl.handle.net/11616/109391Background Existing data suggest that cytomegalovirus (CMV)-specific cell-mediated immunity (CMV-CMI) in solid organ recipients may predict post-transplant CMV infection, but the available information is still limited, and needs to be validated for larger patient populations under certain circumstances. This study aimed to determine whether CMV-CMI could predict post-transplant CMV infection in liver transplant recipients (LTRs) receiving antiviral prophylaxis (AVP). Methods A total of 1769 LTRs at the Inonu University Liver Transplantation Institute were retrospectively analyzed. CMV-CMI in a total of 334 patients (> 91% were CMV donor [D] positive/recipient [R] positive) who received AVP were analyzed using the CMV-Interferon (CMV-QF; QuantiFERON-CMV, Qiagen, Germany) assay within the week before transplantation. Patients were divided into two groups: group 1 (positive; n = 171, 51.2%) and group 2 (negative; n = 163, 48.8%). Patient variables were analyzed statistically. Results A total of 124 LTRs developed CMV infection. Patients' pre-transplant characteristics did not differ significantly by their CMV-CMI result. A significantly lower percentage of LTRs with CMV-CMI positive developed infection than those with negatives (7.6% vs 68.1%, P < .001). All CMV-CMI positive patients fully recovered with antiviral treatment but only 76.6% of LTRs with negative CMV-CMI (P = .032). Logistic regression analysis showed that a negative CMV-CMI was associated with a 26 times increased risk of CMV infection compared to those with positive CMV-CMI (odds ratio [OR] = 25.9, P < .001). Female recipients developed CMV infection earlier after cessation of AVP than male recipients (median = 128 vs 144 days, P = .038). Conclusions The pre-transplant status of CMV-CMI may be a strong indicator of post-transplant CMV infection for LTRs receiving AVP. Therefore, further consideration should be made for the LTRs with negative CMV-CMI.eninfo:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccessArticle578160316094080394310.1016/j.transproceed.2025.07.0062-s2.0-105013096583Q3WOS:001598179200010Q40000-0002-2395-39850000-0002-2915-46660000-0002-0449-03560000-0003-1208-40720000-0002-6220-05210000-0003-3930-774X0000-0002-6864-7711