Cytomegalovirus DNAemia and treatment following allogeneic stem cell transplantation with a focus on long-term outcome

Abstract

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is an important factor for morbidity and long-term outcome after allogeneic haematopoetic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT). Cases of proven and probable CMV infection and disease among 97 allo-SCT recipients in Gothenburg, Sweden, 1997–2001, were analysed. CMV DNAemia was detected in 60 patients at a median of 30 days after SCT. Four patients (4%) had CMV disease; 2 had proven and 2 had probable CMV disease. Of these 4 patients, 1 died of CMV disease. In 1 additional patient, CMV was considered to have contributed to the patient's death. Fifty patients (51%) were treated in a total of 93 treatment episodes. The overall 1-y survival was 75% and the 5-y survival 55%. Patients with diagnosed CMV DNAemia had improved survival. No significant differences in survival rates were seen between the donor/recipient serological groups. An increased risk of CMV DNAemia was seen after SCT with a seronegative donor to a seropositive recipient. CMV disease with debut more than 110 days after transplantation was related to steroid treatment for graft-versus-host disease. The morbidity related to CMV disease following allo-SCT was low over the past 10 y, probably due to CMV surveillance and early treatment.

Acknowledgements

We thank Georg Lappas and Salmir Nasic for their work with statistical analyses, Dr Magnus Lindh for virological analyses and Dr Sahra Abdulle for her critical reading of the manuscript and her support. This work was financially supported by the Gothenburg Medical Society and the Scandinavian Society of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy.

Declaration of interest: No conflicts.