['Cytomegalovirus (CMV) remains the most common viral infection after pancreas-kidney transplantation (PKT). Comparative studies about CMV prophylaxis in PKT have not been developed.', 'We analyzed CMV disease in a cohort of 84 PKT recipients. All received intravenous ganciclovir during treatment with anti-thymocyte globulin and later one of the following options for pre-transplant CMV-seropositive recipients: (a) no prophylaxis (n=10 patients), (b) preemptive therapy (PT) (n=13), or (c) continuous prophylaxis (CP) for 12 weeks (n=29). Pre-transplant CMV-seronegative recipients received CP (n=21).', 'Eleven patients were excluded because of organ explantation in the first 15 days. Incidence of CMV disease in seropositive recipients was 30% under no prophylaxis, 23% under PT, and 6.9% under CP. Incidence of CMV disease under CP was 33.3% in seronegative recipients. Six of 9 episodes of CMV disease under CP occurred after finishing prophylaxis. Under CP, the incidence of CMV disease was significantly higher in seronegative than in seropositive recipients (P<0.05).'] Is preemptive therapy adequate for prevention of cytomegalovirus disease in pancreas-kidney transplant recipients?