The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) has accepted valganciclovir oral solution (Valcyte™) for restricted use within NHS Scotland for the following:

• Prevention of CMV disease in CMV-negative patients who have received a solid organ transplant from a CMV-positive donor (it should only be initiated by physicians experienced in the care of post-transplant patients)

• Induction and maintenance treatment of cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Its use should be under the overall supervision of an expert ophthalmologist and a physician experienced in the management of HIV / AIDS patients.

In patients for whom valganciclovir is an appropriate choice of therapy this is the only licensed formulation for those undergoing haemodialysis (creatinine clearance <10ml/minute). Otherwise its use should be restricted to patients unable to use the less costly solid oral dosage form.