Study design and treatment plan.

Upon detection of CMV infection by antigenemia or PCR assay in peripheral blood (CMV+), patients were randomized to either foscarnet or ganciclovir induction treatment. If at the end of the induction regimen CMV was still detectable (CMV+), treatment was continued using a maintenance regimen; if CMV was undetectable following induction (CMV−), treatment was stopped. Patients who remained persistently CMV-positive (CMV+) after the end of maintenance treatment or who subsequently relapsed with CMV infection were treated at the discretion of the investigators.