Ganciclovir  (Cytovene)

IV ganciclovir is approved for both induction and maintenance treatment of cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis in immunocompromised patients and for prevention of CMV infection in transplant recipients. It is also used to treat CMV infections of other sites (colon, esophagus, lungs, etc) and for preemptive treatment of immunosuppressed patients with CMV antigenemia or viremia. Oral ganciclovir is less effective than IV because of lower bioavailability. It has largely been changed by oral valganciclovir, which achieves plasma concentrations same to those with IV ganciclovir.