Experience with Epstein barr virus and Cytomegalovirus infection in pediatric liver transplant recipients: A 2014–2017 study

Introduction

This study presents our experience with Epstein Barr virus (EBV) and Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections in the pediatric liver transplant population and their potential association with the development of the post-transplant lymphoproliferative syndrome (PTLD).

Patients and methods

This retrospective descriptive study covers the period from 2014 to 2017 and includes pediatric liver transplanted recipients who underwent viral load monitoring for EVB and CMV during the first-year post-transplant.

Results

A total of 89 patients were included in the study, with a median age of 0.68 years (RIQ 0.31–0.96) (10.8 months RIQ 8.4–25.2). The most common underlying pathology leading to transplantation was biliary atresia, observed in 55 (61.6 %) cases. Regarding EBV viral loads, values exceeding 10,000 copies/ml were observed in 9 (8 %) patients at 3 months, 33 (29.3 %) at 6 months, 31 (27.6 %) at 9 months and 25 (22.3 %) at 12 months post-transplantation. The probability of developing EBV infection within one-year post-transplantation was 81.3 %, while the probability of CMV infection was 29 %. A total of 8 (8.9 %) biopsy-confirmed graft rejections occurred, only 1 was EBV and CMV-negative. The likelihood of graft rejection in patients with EBV infection was 21.5 %, and for CMV it was 20.8 %. Importantly, only one case of PTLD was documented during 12 months follow-up.

Conclusion

Characterizing this pediatric liver transplant population and monitoring EBV and CMV viral loads enables timely interventions, potentially reducing the risk of PTLD and graft rejection.