Letter to the Editor: Time for cost-effectiveness studies for preventive strategies applied according to risk of cytomegalovirus-related morbidity and mortality in ANCA-associated vasculitis.

Gastrointestinal cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease in ANCA-associated vasculitis is associated with significant morbidity. Studies should be performed to identify the epidemiology and risk factors for CMV disease in AAV so that vulnerable patients may be risk-stratified for consideration of preventive strategies such as surveillance and pre-emptive therapy or anti-viral prophylaxis. Given the absence of evidence-based guidelines for prevention of CMV disease in patients with AAV receiving potent immunosuppressive therapy, further risk-benefit studies are required to ascertain if preventive strategies will reduce CMV-related morbidity and mortality in individuals with AAV.